Eagle creates a very special Jaguar E-Type, the Speedster

When Jaguar E-Type was first presented, Enzo Ferrari stated it was the sexiest car ever built. Many agree with him, including Eagle, a company that is dedicated to this car. Eagle not only restores E-Type units, it also improves them by adopting modern solutions, in order to make them cars that can be used on an every day basis. If Eagle can improve the way the car works, why couldn't it improve the way it looks. Maybe because it would be very difficult to perfect what already looks perfect, but they have managed to do so with the Eagle E-Type Speedster. Have a look at this beauty below.



Paul Brace and his team were the people you can credit this car for. The idea has emerged when dr. Rick Velaj, from Connecticut, USA, asked Brace for something special. Considering all cars from Eagle are special (we'll tell you more about it later), what he really meant was that he wanted a car nobody else had, based on the E-Type. Brace has drawn some sketches, for a speedster version, and the idea was approved. With no time or money limits.

All E-Type cars made by Eagle are almost rebuilt in order to become more reliable. All electric systems are replaced by Bosch or Nippondenso, the body is entirely new, the chassi gets an extensive revision in search for problems and eventual replacement of parts and the engine also receives improvements. "We always use a proper XK Jaguar engine (and would only ever consider using proper Jaguar six-cylinders). Often we rework the original E-Type engine. We offer many variants of specification from big valve with sports cams to a lovely 4.7 litre rework. To achieve 4.7 we use a crankshaft especially built for us and different piston sizes (bored and stroked). We normally use original SU carburettors but sometimes use sequential fuel injection with individual throttle bodies and Pectel management. This is a fabulously efficient system", Brace told MotorTips.

In the Speedster case, the best was not enough. "We also offer an incredible XK engine which is 4.7 litre all aluminium block and head. Much lighter and with all the 4.7 litre torque. This is our very own aluminium block, which looks identical to the original E-Type block. Our 4.7 litre XK engine produces over 300 genuine bhp and over 474 genuine Nm of torque", Brace added.

The body has been modified to adopt the speedster style, with a custom windshield and other changes, such as the five-speed gearbox entirely made by Eagle itself (the original one was a four-speed unit), but one of them is special above all: the entire body is made of aluminium, what makes the car incredibly light.

Finish quality, as you may imagine, is huge, as in most hand-built vehicles. A regular Eagle E-Type can take more than 3,500 hours to be completed. The Speedster consumed 5,500 hours. Prices? Brace says they have not defined them, but he gives us an idea on how much it would cost. "We have not finalised the cost yet but our usual E-Type rebuilds cost £295,000 (plus any upgrade costs). The Speedster will be more, particularly because the body shell is entirely handmade in aluminium."

The good news, for the ones that can afford having such a car, is that anyone can have a Speedster. "We will build more if asked, but as we are a small company and it is hand built, we will only be able to produce a very small number (one per year?)". Mr. Velaj must not worry. The E-Type Speedster will remain a very special vehicle, even if improved units appear. "I would expect the next Speedster to incorporate an aluminium 4.7-litre block and fuel injection. It will weigh under 1,000 kg and have over 474 Nm of torque... AWESOME!", Brace said. We certainly agree!



























Source: Eagle

Rendered speculation: will the new Jaguar XJC look like this?

Soon after the new Jaguar XJ was introduced, Ian Callum said Jaguar is also developing a coupé version of the new flagship sedan. It will be the first time in more than 30 years the car will have a XJC version, a car that was produced from 1973 to 1978 with in-line six cylinder engines and powerful V12 as well. With that in mind, the "automotive manipulator" Theophilus Chin (we would call him the Photoshop magician, instead) has designed what he thinks the new XJC may look like. And we would certainly hope his version is an anticipation of the future.



According to Chin, he has reduced the rear overhang, removed the window frames and took away the black D-pillar, something that most people did not find very beautiful. The XJC will naturally be a little shorter than the new XJ, which is 5.12 m long and bears a wheelbase of 3.03 m, but other measures must remain the same: 1.90 m wide and 1.46 m tall (operhaps a little lower). The new coupé will be built over the same all-aluminium platform from XJ.

As for the engines, the new XJC may offer the same four engine options from the XJ, one diesel and three petrol units. The diesel powerplant may be a 3-litre V6 that produces 275 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 600 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The direct injection petrol units are a naturally aspirated 5-litre V8 and two supercharged powerplants, one producing 470 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 575 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm and the other generating 510 bhp from 6,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm and 625 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. All versions of XJ come with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual gear changes with throttles behind the wheel. The XJC is sure to follow that. It is only a pity no 12 cylinder unit will make it to these cars. You know, low emission standards...



Source: Theophilus Chin

OFFICIAL! - Jaguar reveals the new XJ with the help of Jay Leno

Just as expected, Jaguar has called Jay Leno, a fun guy and a car connoisseur, to present its new flagship, the 2010 XJ. The presentation took place in London, at the Saatchi Gallery and the car represents a real breakthrough in design for Jaguar.



The new XJ is 5.12 m long, 1.90 m wide, 1.46 m tall and bears a wheelbase of 3.03 m. In the regular sized body. When we get to the long wheelbase version, these specs change to 5.25 m long and a wheelbase of 3.16 m. The other dimensions are just the same. Luggage compartment hold up to 520 l. As expected, this proves the all-aluminium platform is still the same one used by the previous XJ, called X351.

Even though aluminium helps the car to be lighter than its competitors by 150 kg, the XJ is still heavy. Its weight goes from 1,755 kg, for the naturally aspirated version, to 1,915 kg, for the supercharged V8 version.

The new Jag, said to be a stretched version of XF (and is it bad at all?), will have four engine options, one diesel and three petrol units. The diesel powerplant will be a 3-litre V6 that produces 275 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 600 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The direct injection petrol units will be a naturally aspirated 5-litre V8 and two supercharged powerplants, one producing 470 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 575 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm and the other generating 510 bhp from 6,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm and 625 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. All versions come with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual gear changes with throttles behind the wheel.

An interesting information about the car: it has no regular clusters, but a screen that reproduces them and changes according to the way the car is driven. Besides being much cheaper than the traditional clusters, this dashboard also causes a high tech effect. If the car proves to be reliable enough, this is going to be a trendsetter. Time will tell.























Source: Jaguar