Jaguar XJ220 Updated Pics

Jaguar XJ220 Updated Picsjaguar-xj220-1

British auto-maker, Jaguar, has this week finally confirmed that it will build a spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type. Revealed to UK car mag Auto Express, the company has given the green light to production of a two-seat sports car to rival the Porsche Boxster.

The long-awaited development is a result of substantial investment being ploughed into the marque by new owners Tata over the next five years. Tata chief executive, Carl-Peter Foster, has confirmed that a sports car is in the final stages of design.

Speaking to Auto Express about the company's chief designer, he said: "Ian Callum has been working on some ideas along these lines and we like what we see. We are at the clay model stage, tweaking the idea here and there."

The new model will sit below the XK in the Jaguar range and be designed to be more driver-focussed than the current grand-tourer.

Smaller in size, it is expected to bear a close family resemblance to the XK incorporating an elongated oval mesh grill at the nose and latest Jaguar design hallmarks from the sculpted hood to the sleek, new-style Jag headlights.

Up front there's expected to be one of Jaguar's latest powerplants such as the 5.0 litre V8 available across the company's range including the power-boosted XF-R and XK-R models, leaving open the option of a exciting, range-topping 'R' version.

Predicted to debut in around 18 months time, Jaguar sources say that it will be priced to compete with premium sports class leaders like the BMW Z4, Audi TT RS, Mercedes SLK AMG as well as Porsche Boxster and Cayman.

The news comes as the UK-based company has also revealed plans to build on the achievements of its XF model by expanding the range to include estate and coupe versions.

Buoyed by successfully competing for premium executive sales with the dominant German marques, an XF coupe would expand the fight to the highly-regarded Audi A5 and BMW 3-series.

However, Jaguar remains tight-lipped on the prospects for a rumoured new XJ220 style supercar to take on the Audi R8.

The company's revival has so far seen the all-new XK, XF and, this year, XJ models hit the roads. Fans of the classic British marque will no doubt be excited to see that the trend is set to continue.

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Citroen C4 Press

Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroen C4

Isn't interesting how things come full circle? Take for example the latest Citroen C4, the dramatic and stylish replacement for the uninspired mid-range Xsara and ZX models. After almost a decade and a half of Peugeot ownership, and the efforts to increase market share by making conventionally-styled cars, Citroen finally realised that the brand really needed to return to the defiant, innovative spirit that characterised models such as a DS, GS and CX from the 50s, 60s and 70s.



Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroen C4

There used to be a joke in the 80s and 90s that each new Citroen model had to have a larger double chevron badge than the earlier models because it was increasingly difficult to tell Citroens apart from Peugeots and Renaults. Well, with the C4, this is definitely not the case, even if the double chevron has become larger and incorporated on the grille; this will be the new identity for all future Citroen models. Grille apart, the C4 has bold arching lines, making it look like a stretched and more dynamic C3. From the up turned headlamps in front, to the sloping rear, the C4 looks distinctive and unique, but also well proportioned and stylish. Even while standing still, its mild cab forward stance gives it a thrusting, forward motion. There is no mistaking this new Citroen for another brand of car.



Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroen C4 Picasso Safety

On the inside as well, the C4 recalls the futuristic dashboards of Citroens' passed. The futuristic digital instrument binnacle is a floating pod located in the middle of a symmetrical dashboard. The speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges, as well as the distance-to-empty reading for fuel, are all displayed in this singular LCD panel, and it is impressively easy to read. More than just a conventional digital display, the panel is actually translucent, and it changes colour according to the amount of light falling on it.



Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroen C4

The tachometer, gear selection and warning lights are mounted in a separate pod directly in front of the driver, and the entire assembly moves up and down when the steering is adjusted. Instead of having a red-line, the tachometer display itself changes to red when the engine is over-revved.



Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroën C4 Sport

Perhaps of the most radical aspect of the C4's dashboard is the steering boss. Instead of turning with the wheel, it remains in place. This means the switches mounted on it (cruise control on the left and in-car hi-fi on the right) don't move, and are actually easier to use this way. Having a fixed steering boss also allowed for the mounting of a larger two stage airbag for the driver. Like all innovative designs, one must ask why nobody thought of it any earlier? It is refreshing that Citroen is designing interesting dashboards again through intelligent re-thinking and questioning of the status quo, and not just for the sake of being different.



Citroen C4 Press ImagesCitroen C4 Coupe

But unique looks aside, the C4 is also a great drive - the throttle is lively and responsive, and the steering feels positive and tactile, on top of being a wonderfully innovative design. Citroens have always been involving and good to drive, but with the C4, they once again have the distinctive looks to match. Sure, Alfa Romeos sound better, Hondas are more free-revving and the Mini has a sharper steering, but the C4 drives as though its suspension, engine and chassis are perfectly choreographed, each component playing its part so that the whole ensemble gives an outstanding and well-rounded performance.

But probably the most significant, but rational aspect of the C4 is that it is utterly conventional. There is no hydra-active pneumatic suspension, and it doesn't have a mind-boggling fluid based clutch or powered steering. In fact, mechanically speaking, the C4 is almost entirely identical to the Peugeot 307. Yet, the two cars could not be more different. While the 307 is tall and spacious, the C4 is curvy and feels snug inside. While the Peugeot has a conventional cabin, the C4 is completely digital and avant-garde. In the 307, one rides tall, like in an MPV, while in the C4, the set up is sportier and one feels like piloting a futuristic spacecraft. A true Citroen fan might bemoan the fact that the C4 is mechanically conventional, but does it matter when it is likely to be more reliable because it is made this way?

So yes, the C4 is distinct and dramatic the way Citroen's used to be. It looks and feels different, and drives better than any of its peers. From the nice details, such as the integrated car-fragrance perfume container, to the striking silk-like textured surfacing over the dashboard, Citroen has shown in the C4 it is still tops for out-of-the-box thinking and design. We wholeheartedly welcome the new breed of Citroen that satisfies both the left- and right-side of the brain.

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