Straightline

Let's be clear about something here: The CTS-V Challenge was not, strictly a fair race. It was a publicity stunt. Cadillac acknowledges this. Still, as a publicity stunt, it was a hell of a lot more fun than basically every other car-maker publicity stunt we've attended.

And it's a stunt that a young guy, who claimed to be a Skip Barber school graduate but not a racer, won in his BMW M3. His fast lap of 2:50:424 was the fastest single lap of any driver that wasn't a ringer (Heinricy, Link and Redman). No other CTS-V could touch him.

Here, for the record, are the final lap times of the day:

Mystery Driver (Johnny O'Connell), CTS-V, ringer, 2:45:537

John Heinricy, CTS-V, ringer, 2:46:560

Aaron Link, CTS-V, ringer, 2:48:902

Brian Redman, CTS-V, ringer, 2:49:596

Michael Cooper, BMW M3, private owner, 2:50:424

Jack Baruth, CTS-V, journalist, 2:51:153

Lawrence Ulrich, CTS-V, journalist, 2:53:157

Bob Lutz, CTS-V, The Bob, 2:56:321

Michael Mainwald, BMW M5, private owner, 3:05:398

Wes Siler, Mitsubishi Evo, journalist, 3:08:126

Chris Fairman, CTS-V, private owner, 3:14:292

Archan Basu, Jaguar XF, private owner, 3:15:670

Tom Loder, Audi RS4, private owner, 3:15:702

Categories: Audi,BMW,Cadillac,Jaguar,Mitsubishi

No surprise here: Professional racer and retired GM engineer, John Heinricy posted the day's fastest lap at 2:46:560.

This knowledge is useful mostly for getting an idea of how fast a CTS-V is capable of running here at Monticello. Do not, however, compare that lap time (nor that of the other GM ringer), to the laps posted by the privately owned BMWs, Jag and Audi. Those were more-or-less average guys that happen to own fast cars, not professional drivers.

Categories: Audi,BMW,Cadillac,General Motors,Jaguar

The timed laps have begun here at Monticello and the fastest lap of the first session of three cars goes to not the journalist-driven CTS-V or, predictably, the Jaguar XF, but to the BMW M3 driven by owner Michael Cooper of Long Island.

Cooper, who has had all of five years with a driver's license laid down an impressive 2:50:424. The CTS-V automatic driven by Jack Baruth of thetruthaboutcars.com recorded a best lap of 2:51:153. The Jag pulled up the rear at 3:15:670.

Nice work by the young Mr. Cooper. Three more heats to go, including the heavy-hitter fourth heat.

Categories: BMW,Cadillac,Jaguar

If you've been obsessively following the run-up to this little shin-dig, you'll know that late in the going -- in fact only a couple days ago -- Jaguar public relations pulled the 510-hp XFR it had promised to a couple of media types, leaving the journos scrambling to find something to, you know, challenge Bob Lutz in this challenge.

Well, there's been a late addition to the list of competitors: A Jaguar XF. You'll notice that we left off the "R" suffix. That's because the Jag in question is not an R; it's a supercharged XF. Nice car, but hardly in the league of heavy-hitters like the M5 and CTS-V. As with the M5, M3 and RS4, the Jag is a private owner's car chosen by Cadillac to compete.

We wish him luck, but we ain't putting our money on the guy.

Categories: Cadillac,Jaguar

There's been a change of plans for the Cadillac CTS-V challenge scheduled for Thursday. Jaguar originally said it would provide a XFR for journalists to drive, but has now backed out over safety concerns according to company spokesman Stuart Schorr. That leaves a field of just two challengers for now -- an Audi RS4 and a BMW M5.

In response to the sudden departure of the XFR, Bob Lutz told a GM fan site the following:

"I think it means that the European high-performance sedans are excellent, even superb cars, but quite possibly not ready for racing laps right out of the show-room. The CTS-V is not only quicker, but will, in totally untweaked, stock form, run hot laps at any race track until it runs out of fuel. Transmission oil and diff oil temps are stable, engine oil temp doesn't go up, brakes get a bit more pedal travel, but don't fade. The street tires get a tad greasy, but handling and control remain excellent. "May the best car win"! (It wins automatically if the competitors won't show up!)"

The GMSource

Categories: Audi,Auto Industry,BMW,Cadillac,Consumer Track Events,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Sedans

At the swank "Rusnak Jaguar Reveals - A Night of Luxury" event at Universal Studios back lot on Saturday, we rubbed elbows with Miss California, Natasha Henstridge (Species), some actress from Desperate Housewives (not one of the wives) and even good ol' Scott Baio of Happy Days' Chachi fame. There were complimentary cocktails from Effen Vodka and Courvoisier as well as Maddalena wines to make things interesting for the well-heeled masses as they carefully negotiated the cobblestone streets. A cigar lounge welcomed those who wanted to puff on the free stogies from Cigars by Chivas. And at the end of the night, this "California chic" attired crowd enjoyed the Kevan Hall fashion show.

Yes, a fashion show. At first, we, too, thought that this seemed an odd thing to pair with a luxury car reveal. But then it made sense. Much like designer fashions, luxury cars connote high-quality and the best there is to be had. To own these items shows the world that not only do you have a well-padded bank account but that you possess exquisite taste. So it was no wonder that after each reveal of the 2010 Jaguar XJ, Porsche Panamera and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, party guests swarmed the luxo-cars for their chance to get in the driver seat; well, except the Ghost, whose doors remained locked. It was difficult to get close enough to the cars to even sniff their sumptuous leather interior, let alone check our reflection in their windows.

In any case, it was a fun albeit surreal way to see how enthusiastic the other half gets over cars.

More pictures after the jump.

Continue reading Rusnak Jaguar's Night of Luxurious Reveals.

Categories: Celebrities,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Manufacturers,Porsche,Rolls-Royce

Inside Line has learned that Jaguar is working on a compact five-door coupe a la Audi A5 Sportback or BMW 5 Series GT. It's based on the Jaguar XF (pictured) platform architecture.

Codenamed RD7, the Jaguar hatchback has suicide-type rear doors and a side-hinged tailgate as on the beloved XK-E (E-type). Apparently, Jaguar has been considering both three- and five-door versions but has decided to concentrate on the five-door, which the company believes would sell in greater numbers. Under the hood is the 2.7-liter V6 diesel Jaguar introduced in the XF.

Although this project is timely given Audi's and BMW's efforts to create the luxury five-door hatchback segment, our sources suggest that Jaguar's hatch is at least four years from production as the company has limited manpower to push through such a project. A new sportscar, codenamed XE, is likely to precede it; this reborn E-Type would be unveiled sometime in 2011, with a plan to put it on sale in 2012.

Categories: Coupes,Hatchbacks,Jaguar,Luxury Cars

Qualifying for the 10-hour, 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans race is today at Road Atlanta, and the race starts tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. EST with coverage on Speed Channel. However, you just can't escape social media anymore, and Audi will be tweeting and facebooking about the R15 TDI thoughout. This car hasn't lost the P1 class here since 2000. The company just posted this video of the racecar being prepped for Thursday night's practice session.

Apart from that, the major news here is the debut of the RSR (Rocket Sport Racing) Jaguar XKR GT2. Underneath the racecar's carbon-fiber body work, says RSR team owner Paul Gentilozzi, is the aluminum frame of the showroom XKR -- in keeping with GT2 class rules. The 4.2-liter V8 is heavily modified, of course, and it's hooked up to a sequential rear transaxle. Brakes are by Brembo (14.9-inch with 6-piston calipers up front, 13.8-inch with 4-pot calipers in back); tires are by Yokohama.

RSR is using this race as a shakedown for the XKR GT2, as it prepares for the full 2010 ALMS season.

Inside Line News: RSR's Jaguar XKR GT2 To Debut at Petit Le Mans This Weekend

R15 TDI Facebook, Twitter

Categories: Audi,Jaguar,Motorsports

Remember when Jay Leno and Elle MacPherson unveiled the 2010 Jaguar XJ in London back in July? We got to spend some more time with the 2010 XJ sedan in Frankfurt, its first major auto show appearance. Contributor Alistair Weaver gives you a tour of the XJ's design.

First Look: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Sedans

Ford never could figure out how to make money on Jaguar and Land Rover, and now Tata Motors is struggling with the very same problem, albeit in a much tougher economy. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company posted a net loss of $67 million (3.29 billion rupees) for the fiscal quarter ending June 30. In the same quarter last year, Tata recorded a net profit of $147 million (7.2 billion rupees).

With the addition of the Jaguar/Land Rover model lines, Tata's net sales were actually up 13 percent year over year, says the WSJ -- yes, even though Jaguar-Land Rover unit sales were way down in the U.S. and Europe. But this wasn't enough to offset the added expense of owning these two brands.

So now there's just a little more on the line with the make-or-break launch of the redesigned 2010 Jaguar XJ, which goes into production this fall.

Wall Street Journal (sub.req)

Inside Line First Look: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Categories: Auto Industry,Jaguar,Land Rover,Tata Motors

This long list of events is your chance to throw away your inhibitions and lay down some rubber. Some of the track days make you bring your own vehicle, while others provide you with a machine to pilot. Either way, find the right event and brush up on your driving skills by booking some track time at the links below.

Continue reading Hit Up the Track With These Events.

Categories: Audi,BMW,Bentley,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Consumer Track Events,Dodge,Ferrari,Ford,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Mazda,Mitsubishi,Porsche,Saab,Scion,Subaru,Toyota

You don't have to be a classic car enthusiast to appreciate the 1952 Jaguar C-Type - especially this one. On top of a brilliant green livery, it still has the original 3.4-liter twin overhead cam six-cylinder that makes 160 horsepower under the hood.  

This one is code-named XKC-007 (just a coincidence, Bond fans), and was the first one to make the jump across the pond to the States. It arrived in New York on August 1, 1952, and changed hands a few times before ending up as a show car in the nineties.

The car was raced by Phil Hill during the 1952 season, where he was victorious at the Torrey Pines Road Races.

It will roll onto the auction block August 15 at RM's three-day Sports & Classics of Monterey event.

Categories: Jaguar

The 2010 Jaguar XJ sedan was revealed to the world at a glitzy London party on July 9th. It looked pretty good under all the glaring lights. Elle MacPherson standing next to it in a short dress didn't hurt either.

But of course, the real test of how well a new design works comes when you see it out on the road. Our spy shooters in Death Valley recently caught up with an undisguised XJ test mule and took a few clear shots to give us a better look at its new shape.

So what do think? Does this design push Jaguar ahead, or will it stifle whatever momentum the XF had generated?

Jay Leno Unveils 2010 Jaguar XJ

Categories: Future Vehicles,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos

And would you believe he didn't like it? No, of course you wouldn't.

For more subtance on the redesigned 2010 Jaguar XJ, Ed Hellwig gives you all the details on the design and engineering of the redesigned XJ in our first look. This is Jag's most ambitious-looking sedan in decades, he writes, and given that the current XJ isn't even on the radar of luxury sedan buyers, just getting people to notice it in the first place is critical -- even if not all reactions are positive.

Another clip of Leno talking about a childhood encounter with a Jaguar XK120 after the jump. Plus, various other videos from Jaguar on the XJ itself.

Continue reading Videos: Jay Leno Unveils 2010 Jaguar XJ in London.

Categories: Celebrities,Jaguar,Luxury Cars

Categories: Citroen,Future Vehicles,Jaguar,Luxury Cars,Sedans,The Mechanic