A Sketch on a Cigarette Pack Led to the Classic Jaguar XK Auto Car Series

Author: Terry Z. Voster

The legendary Jaguar XE series of fine motor cars was directly developed from the inspiration of Jaguar engineers on a rooftop watching their city of Birmingham England being bombed from the sky during the darkest days of World War II.

These engineers sketched the plans for what became the legendary Jaguar engine amazingly and simply on cigarette box carton. . This new engine was so good it became the standard that went on to become the stock Jaguar powerplant for the next 30 years. The best words that best describe this classic engine are - efficient, smooth and powerful. Indeed it was one a mechanical genius, Harry Weslake, who provided the key to the design - a light weight alloy cylinder head with dual cams and angled valves in a hemispherical combustion chamber. The final marvelous touch of genius were the two SU carburetors fed the 3.5 liter straight six, producing a 160 horse power

The new Jaguar was so good that it deserved a whole new car to be designed and built around it. The engineering felt that the motor was so exceptional it needed its own automobile - one worthy of such a powerplant. Otherwise it was if their work had been wasted. 1948 became the release date of this project. What emerged and created a storm from automobile enthusiasts was a low slung car body mounted at was then a fairly standard box-frame chassis. Independent front suspension was by torsion bars and the solid rear axle was by torsion springs. With all the power and effect the final finishing touches that were almost essential were 12 inch diameter drum brakes. Indeed the Jaguar XK120 was timed at a top test speed of 132 miles per hour

Of course the Jaguar XK proved to be a major hit - especially in the lucrative American export market. At a $ 4,000 sticker price 90 % of factory output was exported outside Britain - most of it to the American automobile market. It did not hurt the reputation and sales of the Jaguar .XK series that the car proved to be a killer on the Le Mans auto racing circuits. It was the Jaguars that were to become the inspiration for the classic "sports cars" that were to come - especially the venerable Chevrolet Corvette and Stingray.

The Jaguar line grew and evolved further with each racing win. In 1954 the next step occurred -The classic 1948 era Jaguar XE120 was replaced by what was to become a short lived production run model - the XK140. Disc brakes had made a great impression on the Jaguar racing team crews - including car design team as well as the actual drivers. Along with this went "unitary construction" a major upgrade and update from the former hefty chassis being applied from Jaguar cars from 1955 onwards.

Still the venerable motor based on the cigarette pack sketches lived on with the introduction of the next phase - the XKE Jaguar. Along with that 3.8 liter what then was a major innovation then - electric fans, which were added after exceptional results on the racing circuits with Jaguar as well as other racing cars. The XKE was considered at the time to be the sleekest automobile body shape seen anywhere and at anytime on the globe. Performance was considered mind numbing - 150 miles per hour top speed with 0 to 100 miles per hour in an extraordinary 16 seconds. A driver could accelerate from 0 to 130 miles per hour in less than 30 seconds.

It is no accident that the Jaguar XK series has gone on to be an automobile classic - both in terms of innovative styling, performance and handling.

About the Author:
Terry Z. Voster Metro Services Winnipeg Winnipeg Pre-Owned Auto Financing Manitoba Pre-Owned Luxury Car Clubs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/a-sketch-on-a-cigarette-pack-led-to-the-classic-jaguar-xk-auto-car-series-442533.html

A Sketch on a Cigarette Pack Led to the Classic Jaguar XK Auto Car Series

Author: Terry Z. Voster

The legendary Jaguar XE series of fine motor cars was directly developed from the inspiration of Jaguar engineers on a rooftop watching their city of Birmingham England being bombed from the sky during the darkest days of World War II.

These engineers sketched the plans for what became the legendary Jaguar engine amazingly and simply on cigarette box carton. . This new engine was so good it became the standard that went on to become the stock Jaguar powerplant for the next 30 years. The best words that best describe this classic engine are - efficient, smooth and powerful. Indeed it was one a mechanical genius, Harry Weslake, who provided the key to the design - a light weight alloy cylinder head with dual cams and angled valves in a hemispherical combustion chamber. The final marvelous touch of genius were the two SU carburetors fed the 3.5 liter straight six, producing a 160 horse power

The new Jaguar was so good that it deserved a whole new car to be designed and built around it. The engineering felt that the motor was so exceptional it needed its own automobile - one worthy of such a powerplant. Otherwise it was if their work had been wasted. 1948 became the release date of this project. What emerged and created a storm from automobile enthusiasts was a low slung car body mounted at was then a fairly standard box-frame chassis. Independent front suspension was by torsion bars and the solid rear axle was by torsion springs. With all the power and effect the final finishing touches that were almost essential were 12 inch diameter drum brakes. Indeed the Jaguar XK120 was timed at a top test speed of 132 miles per hour

Of course the Jaguar XK proved to be a major hit - especially in the lucrative American export market. At a $ 4,000 sticker price 90 % of factory output was exported outside Britain - most of it to the American automobile market. It did not hurt the reputation and sales of the Jaguar .XK series that the car proved to be a killer on the Le Mans auto racing circuits. It was the Jaguars that were to become the inspiration for the classic "sports cars" that were to come - especially the venerable Chevrolet Corvette and Stingray.

The Jaguar line grew and evolved further with each racing win. In 1954 the next step occurred -The classic 1948 era Jaguar XE120 was replaced by what was to become a short lived production run model - the XK140. Disc brakes had made a great impression on the Jaguar racing team crews - including car design team as well as the actual drivers. Along with this went "unitary construction" a major upgrade and update from the former hefty chassis being applied from Jaguar cars from 1955 onwards.

Still the venerable motor based on the cigarette pack sketches lived on with the introduction of the next phase - the XKE Jaguar. Along with that 3.8 liter what then was a major innovation then - electric fans, which were added after exceptional results on the racing circuits with Jaguar as well as other racing cars. The XKE was considered at the time to be the sleekest automobile body shape seen anywhere and at anytime on the globe. Performance was considered mind numbing - 150 miles per hour top speed with 0 to 100 miles per hour in an extraordinary 16 seconds. A driver could accelerate from 0 to 130 miles per hour in less than 30 seconds.

It is no accident that the Jaguar XK series has gone on to be an automobile classic - both in terms of innovative styling, performance and handling.

About the Author:
Terry Z. Voster Metro Services Winnipeg Winnipeg Pre-Owned Auto Financing Manitoba Pre-Owned Luxury Car Clubs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/a-sketch-on-a-cigarette-pack-led-to-the-classic-jaguar-xk-auto-car-series-442533.html

All-new Jaguar Xk on Consumer Guide Awards

One of the most preferred auto awards name as Consumer Guide Award was given to all-new Jaguar XK. The latter was declaring the cream-of-the-crop in the premium sporty/performance car category.

Consumer Guide Automotive is a highly regarded automotive source in the industry. It chooses fair, knowledgeable and experienced editors to serve as judges and decide on the best cars in their respective segments. Consumer Guide Automotive is awarding outstanding vehicles annually. The event highlights vehicle values in 17 segments that cover performance, features, accommodation, and price.

2007 Jaguar XK emerged as the superior car amongst its rivals. In said competition, XK was announced the most technologically advanced car its automaker has yet manufactured. It offers exhilarating acceleration, exactness in handling, and powerful performance. These features made XK a truly praiseworthy vehicle.

Mike O'Driscoll, president of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover says that, "The Jaguar XK has received tremendous acclaim around the world from our customers and media alike. However, we are especially delighted to get this recognition from CGA (Consumer Guide Automotive)."

Jaguar XK series is composed of XK8 and XKR. Both the XK8 and the XKR can produce a top speed of 155 mph. They also come with standard alloy wheels. Xenon headlamps are also standard with Jaguar XKR however; it is an option to XK8.

The current version of XK was unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in September 2007. Enthusiasts are saying that the XK is identical to ALC Coupe concept, which was unveiled at the North American Auto Show in 2005. The grille of the latest XK is based on the 1961 Jaguar E-Type.

2007 Jaguar XK uses highly developed and sophisticated aluminum chassis for both the coupe and the convertible. Now on its second generation, Jaguar parts XK8 incorporate the 8-cylinder engine. On one hand, Jaguar XKR parts are enhanced to create a more powerful and stylish car. The new model employs all-aluminum lightweight body, upgraded transmission and sporty appeal.

The new XK has also unleashed the world's first pedestrian safety features. The bonnet protects the pedestrians from head impacts during collisions. Nevertheless, the injuries are not likely sustained by the bonnet itself. Instead, the bonnet is left deformed while the pedestrian's head have a collision with the engine block at the bottom.

The safety innovation of the car was awarded the prestigious the Engineering and Technology Award from London's Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards.

2007 Jaguar XK Coupe is priced at $75,500 while its Convertible counterpart costs $81,500.

Jaguar XK: Powerfully Elegant

Got $74,385? No. Not to buy a new set of XJS Jaguar parts. $74,385 would be so you surely can own one of the latest 2007 Jaguar XK series coupe models. It now comes equipped with a 4.2 liter V8 engine that could produce 300 units of horsepower, and it has also been built with an accompanying chassis made out of aluminum. For city driving, you can get 18 miles per gallon out of it and some 26 mpg for cruising down highways. Just by the name that it holds, the Jaguar XK is a superb vehicle and surely exudes class and power. Is it not something you would want to own?

What is new about this new 2007 Jaguar XK is that it is very fast, even much faster than the models before it. And to add to that note, its speed is a product of its getting lighter. In fact, according to the Jaguar brand, it is now five per cent lighter. The previous models were already topnotch vehicles and with changes like this, it not would be very surprising to find that this vehicle has maintained its reign as the best selling sports car for all time for the Jaguar brand.

This sports car has a huge amount of standard equipment made available for all interested parties. You can count in the usual like traction control, stability control and antilock brakes. You can also find whiplash reducing front seats included in the list. For added safety, Jaguar has added in a tire pressure monitoring system as a standard feature. Oh, and do not forget fun features like the DVD navigation system, plus a keyless start. Jaguar also boasts that the Jaguar XK has an adaptive suspension system, power adjustable front seats that are also heated and has a memory function, and parking sensors are also included.

By Michelle Crimson,writer of Jaguar XK: Powerfully Elegant

Jaguar XKE: Converting Sports Cars Norms

Jaguar XKE Sports Cars Enthusiast,

In the course of the early phase of the Jaguar XKE, the vehicle was presumably planned to be marketed as a grand toured. In fact, it was revealed to be public as such. In spite of this, revolutionizes were made and nowadays, the Jaguar XKE holds two seats and has been fabrication and manufactured to be a coupe, and as a convertible. The coupe body trim is known as the FHC or the Fixed Head Coupe, while on the other hand, the convertible is known as the OTS or the Open Two Seated.

Following several years after this vehicle launch, the Jaguar XKE welcomed a new fresh version in its line and it was the 2 + 2 version. This newest model had a much longer wheelbase compared to the earlier launch versions. Also, public who have come to be enthusiast followers of the Jaguar XKE states that, without a doubt, there have been three generations of this vehicle and these are called the "Series 1", the "Series 2", and the "Series 3".

The Jaguar XKE is also acknowledged as the Jaguar E Type. Countless people agree that it is one of the greatest cars that have been ever built for it holds not only style and performance by also pedigree. By pedigree, it means that it was delicately, exquisitely and carefully done that each part has a particular job to do. In fact, the chassis of the Jaguar XKE has been designed and is the brain child of one very good aerodynamics engineer. Also, it contains the engine that had high specifications and features. These engines generate greater power and capacity compared to the recognized Jaguar XK engine.

From beginning year of 1961 and up until year 1974, the Jaguar XKE roared on the streets and made heads turn. It was essentially manufactured by Jaguar Cars. Going back to automobile history, this Jaguar vehicle and sports car was very much responsible for paving the way in modernize, revolutionizing and changing the sports cars designs as well as the sports cars’ performance and handling. This vehicle was also advertised to be one of the not-so-pricey or inexpensive and that definitely helped the Jaguar XKE in boost up its sales as well as its recognition and popularity.

Jaguar XKE converting sports cars norms proved.

The Story of Jaguar XKE

Jaguar XKE = The Greatest sports car ever.

The Jaguar XKE bound ahead of the world's sports-car platform in March 1961. To any person for whom the automobile is more about relation and romance than utility, the Jaguar XKE ranks in the middle of the most important cars ever produced. And not only for its merits as a vehicle. The Jaguar XKE was a very astonishing sports car, combining speed with style, savagery with consideration. But then, Jaguar devotees had come to expect that from their trademark.

The Jaguar XKE was more impressive. There are enthusiasts who grasp that racing is the topmost of the automotive arts, and thus a road going automobile must be resultant from racing experience. For them, a sports car based on a competition car is the greatest car.

Such disciples recognize a ordinary link between the requirements of the speedway and the pleasures of the open highway, and feel passionately that "racing improves the develop." The E-Type validated their theology.

Currently was a sports car that was not only delicately delightful to look at and exhilarating to drive in every way, but one sired straightly by a racing car. And not merely numerous racing car, but the Jaguar D-Type, which had won the world's most prestigious sports-car race three years running, in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Despite the fact that the Jaguar XKE did not exist until 1961, it was quite clearly the D's lineal inheritor, an honest and genuine attempt to get used to the LeMans car's performance technology to everyday use, to triumph over the racer for the street.

Jaguar did plainly that as a first step. Late in 1956, the company began converting the authentic customer-version Jaguar D-Type racer into a highway- competent sports car. Labeled Jaguar XK-SS, it was compelling evidence that there was more to the duty of humanizing wild beasts than draping them in bind up.

The Jaguar XK-SS was not frankly a dissatisfaction as a sports car, but it was one of those ineffective ones whose failings seem to outnumber their finer points. A "yes, but," kind of car.

In the early days, the project was a scheme, and every person knew it. By the time the Jaguar XK-SS appeared, the D-Type had accomplished its third season and the Jaguar factory had introverted from racing.

It's difficult to notice it from the vantage goal of these days, when all such cars are so immeasurably precious, but at the time, the D-Type was an aging athlete. It nevertheless had some pleasant runs left in it-including a further Le Mans triumph and was more broadly privileged than ever, but retirement was frightening. Quicker racers were springing up all over.

In a honest make an attempt to squeeze some extra cherish from an obsolescent design, Jaguar knock on the idea of fitting some "manufacture" D-Types in addition to full up street equipment. That would fit eligibility policy for the C-Production racing categorize of the Sports Car Club of America, but intended structure at least 100 examples. Jaguar might have a tough time placing that countless with genuine racers.

Nevertheless, possibly some consumers in the England,USA and somewhere else might be fascinated by the potential of owning a true super-sports street car like Jaguar XKE. Worth appraising nevertheless don’t you see in your mind's eye?

Jaguar XKE is a top performance sports car.