Reims Grand Prix, 1952 – soon-to-be Sir Stirling Moss drives a Jaguar C-type to glorious victory.

This was more than a mere race win. It was, in fact, the first ever race victory in a disc-braked car. This landmark event served to cement Jaguar’s reputation for innovative technology and, as a result, disc-brakes soon became universal technology for all motoring – a position they still hold today.

It’s understandable, then, that so many people should be excited by the imminent Donington Historic Festival. There, on Sunday 6th May 2012 – exactly 60 years after the fact – Sir Stirling Moss will take to the track once again in the exact Jaguar C-type in which he reaped victory in 1952.

This is a particularly momentous occasion, as Sir Stirling retired from racing last year at the age of 81. Nonetheless, the history-making car will be reunited with its rightful driver as they complete some demonstration laps for the viewing pleasure of bleary-eyed spectators.

Sir Stirling will also be signing autographs for his fans during the day. You can actually meet him!

But don’t crowd him. We want for this to be a less intense day for Sir Stirling than Reims 1952. There, the heat was so intense and the competition so fierce that he was apparently near collapse after taking the chequered flag. Reportedly, whilst the National Anthem was played in honour of his victory, his team helped him to stand and poured a bucket of water over him to keep him conscious.

Bless.

Sunday morning at the Donington Historic Festival will also see the Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-1961 sports-cars and sports-racers. One can only imagine how it feels to watch people compete in a race named after you.

Is this all sounding like exactly the sort of thing you’d like to see yourself? I mean, we’ve not even mentioned the huge number of car clubs who’ll turn out to display their cherished classics – just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the off-track action at this year’s event.

If you’re interested, know that day tickets for the Donington Historic Festival cost £18 in advance (£25 on the gate), while weekend tickets cost £30 in advance (£40 on the gate). Children aged under 16 are admitted free.

We’re told that ticket prices have been kept low enough to encourage whole families to attend.

Exploit this. Bring the family. Enjoy yourself.

You’ve earned it. Just like Sir Stirling, you’ve earned it.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is imminent!

Although it’s not to take place until June 28 – July 1, the festival was launched in style yesterday as the Jaguar XFR tackled the infamous Goodwood Hill.

As part of a series of demonstration runs, you’ll no doubt agree that the feat provides a suitably dramatic start to what will surely be another weekend of motoring excellence some three months hence.

You might be aware that this year’s festival has a theme, and that theme is “Young Guns – Born to Win”.

It’s a celebration of young drivers, riders, designers and engineers from all spheres of the motoring universe.

Jaguar feel as though they embody this theme through recently recruiting hundreds of new graduates in every part of their Land Rover wing; encouraging them to play a key role in their ambitious plans for the future.

As for their involvement in this year’s event, many may be wondering how Jaguar will top last year’s spectacle: A celebration of 50 years of the E-Type manifest in a spectacular 28-metre sculpture of the most iconic of sports cars dominating the entire festival. The event also saw a number of notable Jaguars such as the C-, D- and, naturally, E-type being driven before crowds numbering in excess of 175,000 people.

So what have they got up their sleeve for this year’s festival?

At the moment, they’re not telling. Rest assured, though, that their contribution will include vehicles from the past and “a little way into the future” – all of which promise to take part in that old run upn Goodwood Hill.

Wish them luck!

With its loud, purring engines, heady, comforting scents, soft and pleasing curves and glamorous costumes, the sepia glow of historic motorsport is, for some, a very big deal indeed.

It’s good news, then, for those who dabble: Jaguar have launched a Heritage Racing programme which will see them return to the competitive arena through the vibrant and beloved world of historic motorsport.

This will mark the first time since 1956 that works-supported C and D types will partake in races at such venues as Goodwood and the Nürburgring. Meanwhile, the season-long programme will also see Jaguar Heritage Racing rear their proud and noble head at numerous events on the historic motoring calendar, including the Mille Miglia, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and each round of the E-type challenge in the UK.

Says Jaguar’s Adrian Hallmark: “Jaguar is proud of its heritage, and it is a heritage that is both alive and ever evolving.

“Advanced engineering is part of our heritage – 2012 sees the 60th anniversary of Jaguar’s development of the disc brake for automotive use, and ten years since the marque introduced aerospace-inspired aluminium monocoque technology to its modern range, technology today used on both the XJ and XK.

“Forward looking design is part of our heritage – the poised intent of the C-X16 concept pushes the boundaries today just as much as the SS Jaguar 100 did in 1935. And racing is very much part of our heritage also – which is why we have launched the Jaguar Heritage Racing programme that this year will see Jaguar C- and D-types in competitive action.”

See? By looking backwards, they’re moving forwards.

If you’re already itching to wave your vintage Jaguar flag, then know that the first event at which Jaguar Heritage Racing will be present is the 2012 Mille Miglia retrospective in May.

This year’s running of the Mille Miglia has particular significance for Jaguar as it marks 60 years since Sir Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis (then Jaguar’s chief development driver) took the start in the first disc-brake equipped C-type.

The next date for your Jaguar-fixated diary is August’s AVD Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix. Some call it “green hell”, as it’s regarded as one of the toughest tracks in the world. Good luck!

Or if you’d rather see this illustrious brand on more British terms, you can look forward to the Goodwood Revival in September. This is Woodstock for those who covet historic motor racing, and you can fully expect to see the Jaguar Heritage Racing C and D type showing up to do their bit.

What a year some have lined up, hey?

This week sees the Geneva Motor Show open up on Thursday (8th March) and go on until Sunday 18th (Mother’s Day – so don’t forget!) With 260 cars on show, some of the finest will be mixing with concepts that may not even have a chance of making it past this show, but which will be the stars that will shine brightest to the 700,000 visitors that are due there?

FERRARI

The Italian car maker will be showing off the fastest ever road car, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which was officially launched in February, but why let a little fact like that get in the way of a good rummage around its chassis and luxury?

A snip at £250,000 each

BUGATTI

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the Bugati Grand Sport Vitesse is No 1 in the FHM charts. More Italian craftsmanship, it looks fantastic and is “the most powerful roadster of all time”, with 1,200 horsepower emanating from the 16-cylinder engine boosted by four turbochargers and intercoolers.

An upgrade from the imperious £1.2million 16.4 Grand Sport, no news yet on how much this will set any buyer back, but whatever it is, it’s worth it..

JAGUAR

The new XF Sportbrake will be making its debut. It’s based on the XF platform  and powering it will be a range of efficient yet powerful diesel engines in 2.2-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder form.

More of a practical whistle than an open-mouthed WOW!

VOLKSWAGEN

They’ll be unveiling he most powerful production Golf Cabriolet ever at the Show, with the expected classic GTI design and an electrically powered fabric roof which can be folded away in just 9.5 seconds, even while travelling at speeds of up to 18 mph.

Personally, I can never resist a Cabriolet, so this is pretty damn exciting for me!

And then there are the versions of the new VW city car – the up! There’s the swiss up!, the winter up!, the x up! And the cargo up! Each have different uses, and colours, although VW is always there in design.

CITREON

They’ve been busy. Not only will the New Citroën C4 Aircross make its world debut alongside the newly restyled C1 and Berlingo Multispace, but there will also be a concept version of C3 Red Block

They’ll also be showing off the complete DS line, along with a new DS4 Racing concept and new special editions – DS4 and DS5 Paris Rendez-Vous and DS3 Racing S. Loeb.

VOLVO

I know; not the most exciting reputation. But they’ll be revealing the all-new Volvo V40, a Premium Hatchback with Volvo features that is apparently “ready to overtake the opposition.”

Look out for the world’s first pedestrian airbag on this one too!

BENTLEY

A new version of Bentley’s flagship, the Mulsanne Mulliner is to be displayed in Geneva, with 21-inch wheels and various other refinements making it a ‘sporting’ version.

To quote Bentley: “It is a luxury car that makes the joy of driving its central focus. In an era of mass production, it stands at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring.

LAND ROVER

Last year the Range Rover Evoque: this year the Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept.

Building on the success of ‘the world’s first premium convertible SUV’, a fully retractable premium roof system with a Roll Over Protection System [ROPS] has been added purely to gauge reaction and assess potential

FORD

Ford are looking at introducing a new range of people movers, starting with the dynamic new Ford Tourneo Custom Concept, with an 8-seat concept, low-CO2 ECOnetic Technology and SYNC voice-activated, in-car connectivity system. Commercial vehicles to follow!

RINSPEED DOCK+GO

Basically a trailer that attached to the sides of small cars such as a SmartCar, it’s designed to be what the makers call a ‘backpack on wheels.’ Aimed towards compact electric cars that give very little boot space, among a number of designs in it is a dock that includes a heated box for pizza delivery boys and another for workmen that has an integrated toolbox.

Look at it as an add-on!

Obviously these are just some of the cars and concepts there, but it’s already looking like the aftershow parties from the Oscars!

Now, anyone got a spare ticket, and flight, and spending money…?

Jaguar Land Rover reached a significant milestone at their Solihull Manufacturing Plant near Birmingham in February – The 1,000,000th Land Rover Discovery made at the plant, rolled off of the production line.

And, to celebrate this fact, and to no doubt publicise it, that self same ‘car in a million’ will be embarking on a 50-day, 8,000 mile trip from its Birmingham birthplace to one of Land Rover’s fastest growing markets in Beijing, China.

And the name of this adventure? The cunningly titled “Journey of Discovery”. (See what they did there?)

All of this to “demonstrate the Discovery’s class defining versatility and all-round capability”,: and also to sell more Discoverys in China and Central Asia. The journey actually features  three Land Rover Discovery vehicles travelling through more than a dozen countries across Europe and Central Asia, and culminating in a triumphant arrival at the Beijing Motor Show on 23 April.

It will also be used by Land Rover to launch a fund-raising project in association with The International Federation of Red Cross and  Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support a much needed water sanitation project in Uganda. The target? £1,000,000.

Mark Cameron, Land Rover Global Brand Extension Director said: “Land Rover is delighted to launch the One Million Pound fundraiser in aid of the IFRC – an organisation we have had a relationship with since 1954. The funds will be used directly by the IFRC, over a three-year period and will be donated to a water sanitation project in Uganda, with over 45,000 beneficiaries.”

Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General of the IFRC said: “Lack of safe water is the most common and preventable underlying cause of disease in the world today and Uganda is one of the countries worst affected. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are working in Uganda to provide safe water and sanitation, reaching 90,000 in the last four years. This joint initiative between the IFRC and Land Rover aims to reach an additional 45,000 people in Uganda.”

The journey is already underway, and the expedition left with a ceremonial farewell attended by famous explorers and adventurers, all of whom have put their faith in the Discovery in some of the world’s most challenging environments. These included Bear Grylls, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ray Mears, Monty Halls and Polar explorer Ben Saunders.

The expedition will be following in the tyre tracks of ‘The First Overland Expedition’ of 1955, in which a team in Series 1 Land Rovers set out from Birmingham to Beijing, and will be crossing many of Land Rover’s major markets including the UK, Russia and China.

Phil Popham, Group Sales Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover said: “Discovery is an extraordinary vehicle and it deserves to be unleashed on an extraordinary journey. There is no better vehicle to tackle all weather, all terrain than the Discovery 4. This gruelling expedition will be visiting 13 countries and covering 8,000 miles, and it’s a fitting initiative to celebrate the one millionth vehicle.”

And all this a mere 23 years after Land Rover introduced the first ever Discovery, sitting squarely between the Range Rover and the Defender models. And it hasn’t taken long to find its feet in the market, carving its own particular niche and becoming a success in its own right with more than 200 awards and sales of nearly 45,000 in 2011 across 170 worldwide markets.

The success of the Discovery alongside other Land Rover models has helped to create a positive momentum at the company’s Solihull operations. Alan Volkaerts, Operations Director, Solihull Operations said: “Many people are involved in the production of the Discovery, and many have been here for the whole journey, from car number one to car number one million. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank every one of them. They have done a brilliant job, and have displayed great dedication and service. These are the men and women who have made the Discovery the success story it is today.”

One million and counting. And the best of luck on the journey to raise money!

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to announce massive reductions of up to £220 a month on the stunning Jaguar XJ.

Blending stunning design with intuitive technology and innovative thinking, the new Jaguar XJ defies preconceptions and sets a whole new standard in the luxury car sector.

On the outside, Jaguar’s beautiful and elegant design emphasises XJ’s bold, sporting profile, whilst inside the XJ’s cabin is welcoming, elegant and beautifully detailed, with the finest materials and the best contemporary design.

But it’s under the bonnet that the Jaguar XJ‘s sporty personality truly comes to life with the 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine delivers 275 bhp, accelerating from 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer savings of up to £220 a month on selected Jaguar XJ models, in stock for quick delivery via our Fast Lease service.

The stunning Jaguar XJ 3.0 Diesel Luxury SWB Auto is now in stock to lease from just £584.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on this beautiful model include:

• HDD Navigation System with Touch-Screen

• Cruise Control

• Lane Departure Warning System

• Rear Parking Aid with Visual Display

• Bluetooth Connectivity

• Bond Grain Leather Upholstery

• Dual Zone Climate Control

• 19″ Aleutian Alloy Wheels

We’ve also got a limited number of Jaguar XJ 3.0 Diesel Premium Luxury SWB Auto models in stock to lease from just £614.95 + VAT a month. The Premium Luxury model offers even greater comfort and driving pleasure with inclusive Metallic Paint (worth £790) and even more options available, on top of the already generous specification mentioned above.

To take advantage of these fantastic Jaguar savings before stock runs out, call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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Say hello to the New XK Artisan SE model that is available in both coupe and convertible forms, the latest addition to the XK Artisan SE range offering luxury quality through the introduction of hand-crafted ‘Artisan’ interiors.

Don’t expect that they come cheap but let’s have a quick look at what you can expect for your money.

Firstly, all that you’d get with a Jaguar XK including the already hand-crafted cabin, Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system which continuously monitors the suspension and alters damping rates up to 500 times a second to ensure optimal stability and handling, and a driver selected ‘Dynamic’ mode which “works with the Adaptive Dynamics system to further increase body control while also sharpening throttle and gearshift responses.”

There’s also the six-speed automatic transmission with alternative manual control via steering-wheel mounted paddles, a seven-inch touch-screen as standard with navigation system and a range of other features, Jaguar’s Adaptive Restraint Technology System for maximum driver and passenger protection, and innovative Pedestrian Contact Sensing System which raises the bonnet in the event of contact with a pedestrian to help prevent contact with hard points under the bonnet.

Then Jaguar add a few refinements.

• ‘Scraffito’ grain leather on the seats, instrument binnacle, door and rear quarter casings, and Poltrona Frau® leather headlinings.
• 16 x16 way heated Performance front seats, a 525W Bowers & Wilkins sound system, unique treadplates and stainless steel pedals as standard.
• A heated steering wheel and keyless entry/start.
• A choice of two Jaguar Design-specified interior colours, each available with a choice of new veneer finishes – Shadow Walnut and Dark Figured Aluminium.
• A new 20 inch wheel design.
• A choice of colours externally, including the new Celestial Black, Polaris White and Rhodium Silver exclusive to the Special Edition of the XK range,. These colours include yet more exclusivity designed by Jaguar’s design team; Navy with Jet headlining and Truffle with Canvas headlining.
• Convertible hood including Black, Blue, Grey and Brown.

Jaguar prides itself on being industry-leading in its use of aluminium technology, and both the coupe and convertible models are light weight, exceptional rigid and strong, and both have a 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 petrol engines in 385PS naturally-aspirated form.

So, how much will this little beauty set you back before you add any extras?

Deep breath and sit down.

On the road in the UK, the Coupé will give you no change from £77,350, and the Convertible £82,500.

Piggy banks at the ready! And a large hammer!

It might be cold outside but Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has some fantastic hot offers on the Jaguar XF to help keep your blood pumping, including savings of up to £56 a month on selected XF models.

Effortlessly fusing sports car styling with the refinement and luxury of an executive saloon, the new Jaguar XF is hard to beat when it comes to luxury, design and performance, boasting an all-new style with revised front lights, fascia and reshaped bumper.

The Jaguar XF also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to power and performance, with the 2.2 litre diesel engine delivering an impressive 190bhp whilst still maintaining a respectable 52.3 MPG.

You can now save up to £56 a month when you lease selected Jaguar XF models with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

One of our best deals is on the Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel SE Auto, in stock to lease from just £299.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on the above model include:

• Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity

• Cruise Control + Speed Limiter

• Rear Parking Sensor

• Auxiliary Input Socket

• Bi-Xenon Headlights with LED Day Running Lights

• Bond Grain Leather/Suede Cloth Upholstery

• 17″ Libra Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of these fantastic Jaguar XF savings, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Like this deal? Join our mailing list to receive weekly emails with our latest car leasing offers straight to your inbox!

In 2011, new car sales in the UK fell to 1.94m (4.4% down on 2010), the lowest total since 1994′s 1.91m.

But these figures don’t truly reflect the manufacturing state of the industry. 80% of cars built in the UK are exported, and these figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) are therefore more of a reflection of the British buying economy.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, commented: “This [fall]  is what you would expect to see. Consumer demand is weaker, but at the same time we are seeing a strong performance in some key segments of the manufacturing economy.”

By that, I guess he means exports and fleet sales, boosted by hire cars and company cars. Consumer sales, in fact, actually fell by a whopping 14% fuelled by a lack of confidence in the economy, the VAT increase to 20%, the scrapping of the scrappage scheme and petrol prices.

Strong demand from China, the USA and India helped keep sales of Nissan, Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover afloat. and this is expected to continue throughout 2012. In fact, the SMMT expects the UK Industry to manufacture around 1.5m cars this year (up 5%) and 1.6m in 2013.

But Deloitte, the consultancy firm, expects a further decline in actual car sales in the UK to an actual figure around 1.84m as the economic crisis continues to bite around Europe.

So who do you believe? My money’s on the latter, but then my glass has always been half empty.

There were winners last year. No real surprise that the Ford Fiesta. a perennial favourite, was the best seller, but the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagon Golf and Vauxhall Astra also sold well.

And worldwide, VW sold a record 5.1m, with Europe and China contributing 3.4m  of that. In fact, China’s overall ‘car consumption’ grew by 13.8%, especially in the luxury car market, with Daimler having a great year in the Far East market. Just think what the figures would have been without that! And surprisingly, considering the state of the US economy, VW sales there grew by over 26% (a possible head in the sand syndrome?) as well as more than expected in India.

So not all good news, and not all bad news. But there is no escaping from the fact that 2012 is going to be a tough year for the car industry as a whole.

Fasten those seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer reduced rentals on the stunning Jaguar XF with savings of up to £30 a month on selected models.

Contemporary, individual and expertly crafted, the new Jaguar XF effortlessly fuses sports car styling with the refinement and luxury of an executive saloon.

Under the bonnet, the Jaguar XF also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to power and performance, with the top-of-the-range 5.0 Litre V8 supercharged engine delivering 510PS, accelerating from 0-60mph in just 4.7 seconds.

You can now save up to a further £30 a month when you lease selected Jaguar XF models with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts throughout January.

One of our best deals is on the Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel SE Auto, in stock to lease from just £339.95 + VAT a month. This superb model comes well-equipped with the following features as standard:

• Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity

• Rear Parking Sensor

• Auxiliary Input Socket

• Dual Zone Climate Control

• Bi-Xenon Headlights with LED Day Running Lights

• Bond Grain Leather/Suede Cloth Upholstery

• Cruise Control + Speed Limiter

• 17″ Libra Alloy Wheels

To view our latest Jaguar promotions and to get an instant quotation on any model in the XF range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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