Article courtesy Jaguar Owners Club

Jaguar XF Sportbrake Takes Best Supporting Role in High-Adrenaline Film Series

High-adrenaline sports in some of Europe’s most scenic locations are featured in a new series of Jaguar films depicting the Jaguar XF Sportbrake as the perfect car for those with an active lifestyle. Each short movie showcases the skill, speed and daring of some of the world’s leading athletes in their chosen sport, supported by the dynamic and versatile XF Sportbrake.

The series of 4 begins this week with a vertigo-inducing introduction to slacklining, with acrobatic action in the heart of Munich where adrenalin junkies show off their skills.

The series will continue with a feature filmed on the wide sands of Tarifa in southern Spain. With some of the highest winds in Europe, it’s the ideal environment for UK champion kite buggy racer Craig Sparkes to demonstrate the speed and manoeuvrability of his machine, both on the beach and in the air as it races around the XF Sportbrake.

The scene progresses to the historic canals of Venice for the third film. This film captures a race across the city between the Jaguar XF Sportbrake and local paddle boarder Leonardo Toso. After Toso unloads his board from the Sportbrake’s roof rails, the car has to take the long road route around the lagoon. Toso, however, is able to progress swiftly through the canals, passing the city’s historic sites.

The final film will feature a ride around the Isle of Man TT course with local hero Mark Cavendish, one of the world’s most successful cyclists. In each movie the XF Sportbrake will play its part in making the activity possible.

Opel, Buick key to profit, sales targets for GM

The near identical Opel Mokka and Buick Encore represent what GM CEO Dan Akerson is pushing the company to do more of — leverage scale, drive profits and serve regional tastes.

GM’s Akerson wants more range for the Chevrolet Volt

GM aims to improve the electric-only range of the next Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid by at least 20 percent.

GM appoints Delphi exec Steve Kiefer to head global powertrain

GM named Delphi executive Steve Kiefer head of global powertrain operations — a post that has been vacant for more than two years. He will report to Mary Barra, GM’s executive vice president of global product development.

Ferrari to add high-performance Speciale variant to the 458 range

Ferrari says its new 458 Speciale features powertrain and performance upgrades that set new standards for the company’s road cars, such as the automaker’s most powerful naturally aspired V-8.

Audi considers low-volume production for Sport Quattro plug-in concept

The Sport Quattro Concept plug-in hybrid Audi will unveil next month at the Frankfurt auto show could become a low-volume series model.

Infiniti names Porsche’s Bartsch to lead Americas unit

Hoping to reverse its U.S. sales decline, Infiniti has hired Porsche’s No. 2 U.S. executive, Michael Bartsch, as its top executive in the Americas

VW builds 10 millionth car in Mexico

Volkswagen built its 10 millionth car in Mexico this month. It was a Beetle.

Geely to supply 500 London taxis to Nanjing

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which owns London taxi maker Manganese Bronze Holding, says it will supply 500 units of the London Taxi TX4 model to the east China city of Nanjing. The first batch of 50 London Taxi TX4s were delivered to Nanjing this month. This is the second order for taxis that Geely has landed this year in China. Geely previously delivered 30 taxis to Hengdian Group Holdings Limited, a movie studio in east China’s Zhejiang Province.

Opel revamps Insignia to win back customers

Opel is refreshing the mid-sized Insignia with new engines and dashboard instruments in a bid to win back customers to the money-losing brand

Volkswagen will build car plant in Indonesia, minister says

Volkswagen will announce plans later this year to invest an initial 200 million euros ($268.53 million) in building a car assembly plant in Indonesia, a government minister said

Volvo CEO Samuelsson to pay 500,000 euros to settle MAN corruption probe

Volvo Car Corp. CEO Hakan Samuelsson has agreed to pay 500,000 euros ($668,000) to charity to settle a German investigation into corruption allegations linked to his time as head of truckmaker MAN SE

Lexus will open luxury stores in branding push

Lexus plans to open luxury stores in Tokyo, New York and Dubai that the automaker hopes will boost its image around the world.

Jaguar E-Type Receives Royal Mail Stamp of Approval AS True British Automotive Legend

Arguably the most beautiful car in history, the Jaguar E-type’s stunning looks and 150mph performance are being celebrated appropriately on one of three new First Class postage stamps being launched today (Wednesday 14^th August) by the Royal Mail.

The Jaguar E-type created a worldwide sensation when it was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, and more than 50 years on, the car continues to cause both excitement and desire, whether it’s on the road, or illustrated on a postage stamp.

The legendary Jaguar is joined by five other familiar and popular British classic cars, including a 1962 MG B, 1963 Aston Martin DB5, 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, 1968 Morgan Plus 8 and 1976 Lotus Esprit, with the iconic red Jaguar E-type roadster chosen for one of the three First Class postage deliveries; very fitting for such a swift and stylish performance car.

Fiat, Guangzhou agree to build Jeeps at JV plant in China, report says

Fiat and China partner Guangzhou have agreed to produce Jeeps at a joint-venture assembly plant in the central China city of Changsha, according to Chinese media.

Infiniti names former GM Europe designer Cox to run London studio

Infiniti named Simon Cox to direct its new design studio in London. Cox was head of GM’s advanced design studio in Coventry, England, between 1998 and 2010 and also worked for Ford

Ferrari plans further hybrids to follow its LaFerrari supercar

Ferrari plans further hybrid models to follow the LaFerrari flagship to attract more wealthy buyers to the brand.

BAIC, SAIC develop self-driving cars

Two major state-owned Chinese automakers, SAIC Motor Corp. and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp., have started developing self-driving cars. SAIC this month signed a partnership with a research institute of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. to jointly develop self-driving cars. BAIC is now working with two state-owned research organizations, China Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Engineering, to develop self-driving cars.

Beijing to get 1,000 electric taxis by year end

The city of Beijing will add 350 electric vehicles to its taxi fleet in the second half of this year, boosting the number of electric cabs in the city to more than 1,000, according to local media. Among the 350 taxis, 150 will be put into use in Beijing’s Changping District and 200 will be introduced in the city’s Tongzhou District. Both districts are in suburban Beijing, reported Beijing Times, a local daily newspaper.

Suzuki joint venture recalls 365,500 vehicles to fix fuel hoses

Changan Suzuki Automobile Co. is recalling 365,500 vehicles in China to repair faulty fuel hoses, the state-owned Xinhua news service reported, citing government regulators. The joint venture will recall 108,600 Suzuki Swifts and 110,600 Antelopes assembled from 2009 through 2012. The partnership also will recall 146,300 Tianyus built from 2009 through 2012, according to Xinhua.

Chrysler assembly plant gets Fiat paint shop

The merging of Chrysler and Fiat manufacturing systems will take a step forward early next year when a 935,000-square-foot (86,865-square-meter) paint shop opens at Chrysler’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit.

Chrysler purchasing boss sees benefits from Fiat link

Scott Kunselman, Chrysler Group’s head of purchasing, says Chrysler is reaping the benefits of buying parts jointly with Fiat.

Geely will offer vehicles jointly developed with Volvo in 2015

Geely will start selling vehicles jointly developed with Volvo in 2015. The joint development may help to burnish Geely’s image as it seeks to become China’s largest auto exporter

Tesla hits trademark snag in China ahead of sales launch

Tesla, the U.S. maker of electric cars, has run into a snag as it prepares to open a dealership in Beijing. According to the Chinese automotive Web site Gasgoo, a businessman named Zhan Baosheng registered the trademark “Tesla” in 2006, and the automaker now is negotiating with him for rights to the name. Despite the trademark dispute, Tesla is moving ahead with plans to export vehicles to China and other Asian markets late this year.