Hofele Design Turns its Attention on the First-Generation Jaguar XK / XKR

Perhaps best known for its work with models from the Volkswagen Group, Germany's Hofele Design has now revealed a new styling program for the first generation of Jaguar's XK coupe and convertible series built between 1996 and 2005.

The tuner's proposal includes an assortment of body pieces such as the very Aston Marton-like shaped front bumper, optional side skirts, a new rear bumper, a discreet boot lid spoiler, and a pair of round tail lamps with LED units. Also including in the package for the XK are a four-pipe exhaust system and 20-inch "Villa RSV" alloy wheels plus a full leather interior. You can take a better look at Hofele Design's Jaguar Xk in our gallery below.

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BertoneBaby-Jaguar B99 Concept Looks Surprisingly Good

  
After the teaser image we showed you earlier today, the first three images of Bertone's design study for a compact Jaguar, hit the web. Dubbed B99 (for the 99th anniversary of Bertone) the eye-catching concept car has a sleek coupe profile, even though it's a four-door sedan. The suicide doors give it a distinctive appearance, but if Jaguar were to build a production model, it's unlikely that they would remain.
While it might look like a long limousine, the Italian design house's B99 concept is just 4.5 meters long. Combine this with the very low height (1.35 meters) and the pretty wide body (1.95 meters) and you have a small sedan looking like a much bigger and more luxurious model, whose profile brings to mind the classic Jaguar XJ.

The very thin A-pillars, the narrow windows and the short front overhang give the car a dynamic yet classy look, while the front and the rear mirror each other, with very thin headlights/taillights and an oval grille whose form is replicated in the back. Inside, the B99 appears to offer a classy environment, mixing brushed aluminium with leather and polished African walnut trim.
Under the hood, the concept sports sedan is said to feature a newly developed full-hybrid drive, but further details remain unknown.
Jaguar Car

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Jaguar Celebrates E-Type's

At the 1961 Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar stunned the automotive world with a timeless design that is still regarded as one of the finest in history. That car was none other than the E-Type. The company said it will mark the E-Type's 50th birthday at this year's Geneva Motor Show and at other events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Goodwood's Revival and Goodwood's Festival of Speed, without going into any more details.

“Half a century of progress has not diminished the significance of the E-Type,” says Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director Jaguar Cars. “It was a sensation when it was launched, and remains Jaguar's most enduring and iconic symbol. The E-Type is simply one of the most exciting cars ever created and a legacy to the genius of Jaguar's founder, Sir William Lyons.”
After all, what other car is a permanent exhibit in New York's Museum of Modern Art? Even the proud Enzo Ferrari said about the E-Type that it was “the most beautiful car in the world.” If one was asked to portray the sixties in the form of a car, the E-Type would be the obvious choice.
It was an even more impressive car considering the E-Type's performance managed to match its looks. Its straight-six 3.8-liter engine produced 265 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, so the car was capable of doing 150 mph, earning it the title of the fastest production car of its time.
On top of that, it only cost a fraction of the price of rivals with similar performance (in today's money $60,000). It remained on the market for 14 years, selling more than 70,000 units.

Jaguar

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2011 Bertone B99

Bertone and Jaguar have joined forces again, and the result is this lovely little concept called the B99. Celebrating 99 years of existence, Bertone's B99 is meant to showcase what a Jaguar 3-Series could look like (and thankfully there's no silly black C-pillar as found on the XJ). While some may disagree with this design's placement in the lineup, one thing is certain: an X-Type this ain't.

The B99 measures 4.5 meters long, 1.35 m tall, and 1.95 m wide with a 2.8 m wheelbase. As befits all Jaguars, there's a leaper on the hood; this time, though, it uses some snazzy pedestrian safety sensors that can retract it at airbag speeds should an impaling be imminent. Think of it as dab of Rolls with your Jaguar.

There's more retraction action at the trunk end of things, too, with a speed-sensing spoiler in the trunk.

Inside are a slew of "hidden riches", as per Bertone. Examples of these little ditties include a hideaway multimedia screen, "Ebony Macasar African Wood", and air vents hidden behind the wraparound wing that floats above the dash. Suspended between the wing and the dashboard are "trumpet" gauges wrapped in aluminum. This unique style also carries over to the transmission shifter/infotainment controller which rises up from the center console.
Now, about those sexy seats; they're definitely Jaguar with their flip-down trays, but with an added touch of flair. Also, all four seats are nestled between their own floating armrests, adding an "at home in the recliner" feel to this luxury sports sedan.
Power comes from an extended range hybrid unit developed by Bertone Energy; in the B99, this system utilizes two 150 kW / 201 hp motors housed at the rear axle and a range-extending 1.4-liter, 125 kW / 168 hp gasoline engine. With their powers combined, these power units create an impressive 425 kW / 570 hp while returning a potential 700 km / 435 mile range (100 km / 62 miles in EV mode) and only emitting 30 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
Also showing up in Geneva is a 2.5 meter wide B99 GT, forecasting a potential track fighter. Not only is it wider, it also sits 100 mm lower and has 50 mm of space between its washboard stomach and the pavement. Also, it gets two more electric motors up front for an all-wheel drive system and 725 total kilowatts (972 hp). You can see most of the other mods, along the with standard B99, in the gallery below.

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