Jaguar Live Driving Event (just as good as Taste of Lexus?)
04-23-12, 12:27 PM
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Jaguar Live Driving Event (just as good as Taste of Lexus?)
a few weeks ago I received an invite in the mail from Jaguar to attend their Live Drive event which is similar to Taste of Lexus.
except this time, Jaguar is a lot more performance oriented of course
There were 4 main events:
1. driving the XJ out onto the public roads of Irvine, feeling the power of its surpercharged 470hp engine and the luxurious the ride is (that is, until you push the throttle down, then you really hear and feel the grunt)
2. the refinement: driving XJ, XK, XF on simulated worst road conditions (cables, bumps, speed bumps... over a slalom course)
3. the performance: driving the XF-R or XK-R over an autocross track with an instructor (avg best lap times were about 31 seconds)
4. the technology: a skid pad with soapy water showing you what a difference the traction control does for you (winter mode) and also the most exhilirating part of the day, 0-60mph in a XKR-S then to a complete stop all in mere seconds
At the end of the day, I have new appreciations for the brand Jaguar.
No longer am I thinking of Jaguar as old man's cars that you must drive with a smoking pipe or a cigar in your mouth, Jaguar has actually rejuvenated themselves quite well with the engine options they've developed.
With Ian Callum at the helm of design, things are looking spiffy too. (in and out)
Many people have asked and even commented on how the ownership of Tata may water down the brand and do some damage to how Jaguar will operate.
This is entirely opposite of what we are seeing. (as evident as how XJ, Land Rover Evoque...etc have come about under Tata's ownership)
Tata is actually fairly hands off in terms of managing Jaguar and Land Rover.
What they are here to do is be the financial supporter of what Jaguar really wants to do.
From this experience, I can soundly say that Jaguar has great visions, and now the financial means to go and execute them.
I can't wait to see and drive the new F-Type when it hits the showroom next year.
Here are some pictures of the event at Irvine's amphitheater
My fav classic car, the E-Type in mint condition!! (or just very well restored!)
XKR-S (550hp, only 100 in US this year, 6 of which were kept for this event) mmmmmm jaaaaaaaaaag
Refinement Experience (driving XJ, XK, XF over speed bumps, cables, crappy road at 20mph, was fairly comfortable)
Indy Car Veteran Roberto Guerro telling us how luxurious the ride in a Jag is
Race instructor giving a crash course on autocrossing with an XF-R (510hp)
the XKR-S that I took from 0-60mph then back to 0 in mere seconds (0-60 in 4.2 seconds, 550hp)
the h'ordeuvres (there were like 10 types of h'ordeuvres)
end of the day, after completing a quick survey, they gave each attendance some freebies:
hat, stainless steel coffee mug (stainless on the inside too), USB key in the shape of the jaguar key fob, catalog, F-type preview card
what a day and definitely something to rival the Taste of Lexus event
im actually glad Tata has bought Jag, you can definitely tell how deep the indian pocket is!
except this time, Jaguar is a lot more performance oriented of course
There were 4 main events:
1. driving the XJ out onto the public roads of Irvine, feeling the power of its surpercharged 470hp engine and the luxurious the ride is (that is, until you push the throttle down, then you really hear and feel the grunt)
2. the refinement: driving XJ, XK, XF on simulated worst road conditions (cables, bumps, speed bumps... over a slalom course)
3. the performance: driving the XF-R or XK-R over an autocross track with an instructor (avg best lap times were about 31 seconds)
4. the technology: a skid pad with soapy water showing you what a difference the traction control does for you (winter mode) and also the most exhilirating part of the day, 0-60mph in a XKR-S then to a complete stop all in mere seconds
At the end of the day, I have new appreciations for the brand Jaguar.
No longer am I thinking of Jaguar as old man's cars that you must drive with a smoking pipe or a cigar in your mouth, Jaguar has actually rejuvenated themselves quite well with the engine options they've developed.
With Ian Callum at the helm of design, things are looking spiffy too. (in and out)
Many people have asked and even commented on how the ownership of Tata may water down the brand and do some damage to how Jaguar will operate.
This is entirely opposite of what we are seeing. (as evident as how XJ, Land Rover Evoque...etc have come about under Tata's ownership)
Tata is actually fairly hands off in terms of managing Jaguar and Land Rover.
What they are here to do is be the financial supporter of what Jaguar really wants to do.
From this experience, I can soundly say that Jaguar has great visions, and now the financial means to go and execute them.
I can't wait to see and drive the new F-Type when it hits the showroom next year.
Here are some pictures of the event at Irvine's amphitheater
My fav classic car, the E-Type in mint condition!! (or just very well restored!)
XKR-S (550hp, only 100 in US this year, 6 of which were kept for this event) mmmmmm jaaaaaaaaaag
Refinement Experience (driving XJ, XK, XF over speed bumps, cables, crappy road at 20mph, was fairly comfortable)
Indy Car Veteran Roberto Guerro telling us how luxurious the ride in a Jag is
Race instructor giving a crash course on autocrossing with an XF-R (510hp)
the XKR-S that I took from 0-60mph then back to 0 in mere seconds (0-60 in 4.2 seconds, 550hp)
the h'ordeuvres (there were like 10 types of h'ordeuvres)
end of the day, after completing a quick survey, they gave each attendance some freebies:
hat, stainless steel coffee mug (stainless on the inside too), USB key in the shape of the jaguar key fob, catalog, F-type preview card
what a day and definitely something to rival the Taste of Lexus event
im actually glad Tata has bought Jag, you can definitely tell how deep the indian pocket is!
Last edited by UberNoob; 04-23-12 at 12:46 PM.
06-07-12, 10:02 PM
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yeah it was a hell of a day
i wish i could do it again someday
i did a full and formal write up if you guys want to read more:
http://autoshepherd.com/blog/2012/05...ar_live_drive/
i wish i could do it again someday
i did a full and formal write up if you guys want to read more:
http://autoshepherd.com/blog/2012/05...ar_live_drive/
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06-10-12, 12:39 PM
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good thing you didnt get a speeding ticket with it
lol
it is so easy to get carried away with these monsters
when I tracked the XF-R, it was very easy to over-throttle on the small autocross track, just too easy to forget there is 500hp under the hood of that car wrapped in so much luxury
lol
it is so easy to get carried away with these monsters
when I tracked the XF-R, it was very easy to over-throttle on the small autocross track, just too easy to forget there is 500hp under the hood of that car wrapped in so much luxury
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08-10-21 10:07 AM
ca, drive, driving, event, experience, gs, invite, jaguar, jaguarlivedriving, jaguarlivedrivingcom, lexus, live, livedriving, taste, texas
