For nearly 50 years, the Jaguar XJ has been one of the finest luxury sedans money can buy. It's been a torchbearer for old-world British luxury and style. Unfortunately, by the early 2000s, the XJ's relentless evocation of Jag's design lineage caused the car to become staid. Which is why in 2010, Jaguar design boss Ian Callum unveiled a new XJ that broke the mold and took Jag's flagship four-door in a modern and controversial direction. 

The current generation XJ is already half a decade old, but its eye-catching looks remain as fetching as ever. So when Jaguar let Business Insider borrow a 2015 XJL Portfolio all-wheel-drive test car, we jumped at the opportunity to spend a week behind the wheel of this automotive icon.

From 1968 to 2009, the Jaguar XJ's appearance represented a steady evolution of ...

.... a clearly ....

.... defined ....

The Porsche 911 Turbo and Mercedes-AMG GT better watch out as word on the street is that Jaguar’s upcoming F-Type SVR will pack more than 600 horsepower.

By comparison, the 911 Turbo and GT in their most potent form come with 560 and 503 hp respectively.

The latest information was posted to Twitter by Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman without mention of a source, but it’s credible given Jaguar’s most recent updates to its venerable supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

The F-Type Project 7 launched last year was the first product from the fledgling SVO skunk works that produces highly-personalized and high-performance vehicles for Jaguar and sister brand Land Rover.

The high-performance models wear “SVR” badging, with the first of these being the Range Rover Sport SVR.

The F-Type Project 7 wasn’t badged an SVR but it does hint at some of the upgrades we can expect on the eventual F-Type SVR. Its engine was rated at 575 hp, which was enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in just 3.8 seconds and a governed top speed of 186 mph. Further tuning should allow hp to move beyond 600 hp, and together with the F-Type’s new all-wheel-drive system we could see the F-Type SVR’s performance encroach on that of its aforementioned rivals.

Prototypes have been spotted in the wild so hopefully we’ll have the first shots of the car soon. Look for more aggressive aero enhancements similar to those featured on the F-Type Project 7, as well as the car’s electronic active differential, carbon ceramic brakes and uprated suspension. At some point there may also be an even more hardcore version similar to the previous XKR-S GT. 

SEE ALSO: The Airbus A380 is the biggest plane in the sky — and celebrating its 10th birthday!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This simple exercise will give you a total body workout and show results super fast

James Bond's latest adventure, "Spectre," doesn't hit theaters until November, but short clips from the movie are already making their way onto the internet.

The latest clip to emerge features a behind the scenes look at a spectacular chase scene through the streets of Rome.

In the clip, an orange Jaguar C-X75 driven by the evil henchman Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista) chases Bond's silver Aston Martin DB10 at night.

"It's a cat and mouse game through the night-time streets of Rome at great speed with two of the fastest cars in the world, neither of which you've ever seen before, " Bond director Sam Mendes said of the scene.

The Aston Martin DB10 is the latest in the long line of James Bond Astons, with roots going all the way back to Sean Connery's DB5 in 1964's "Goldfinger."

The Aston Martin DB10 was designed and built at the request of Mendes and the Bond film's producers. A total of 10 cars were created for use in the films. Unfortunately, the DB10 won't be sold to the public.

The carbon-fiber C-X75 hybrid supercar concept first debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show to rave reviews. The car even managed to take home Autoweek's "Best in Show" award. 

"This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever created,” Jaguar head designer Ian Callum said. "Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful." 

"C-X75 is an exciting project for us and a clear statement of Jaguar’s intent to continue creating bold, innovative and beautiful performance cars."

According to Autocar, sources "involved with the project" report that the supercar concept has undergone modifications for the upcoming film. This includes the removal of the C-X75's 800 horsepower hybrid powertrain. In its place will be Jaguar's trusty 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 engine, from the company's award-winning F-Type sports car

A lot of folks hoped that the model would make it into production. Sadly, however, Jaguar decided to cancel the project in 2013. Fortunately, many of the C-X75's design elements made it into the company's gorgeous F-Type coupe and convertible.

James Bond's 24th adventure hits theaters on November 6, 2015.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Ultimate Bond Cars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch these giant container ships collide near the Suez Canal

One of the cool things about writing about cars for a living is that you get to experience a lot of very different vehicles, often within a few days of each other.

This can be good. But it can also create some issues.

I recently drove a Jaguar F-Type R with all-wheel-drive and a BMW M235i, more or less back to back.

But I didn't drive the F-Type on the street. I drove it at the Monticello Motor Club in upstate New York, on a track, while wearing a helmet. I drove it very fast. And not particularly well, but still.

The BMW was driven mainly on the Saw Mill Parkway, north of New York City, and in suburban New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. No helmet, but I did break out the driving gloves.

This is by no means a fair way to compare the two cars. Business Insider's Ben Zhang checked out the F-Type (a slightly different version) last year and was blown away. We didn't name it our Car of the Year — that honor went to the Corvette Stingray— but the voting was close. The Jag I drove had a supercharged, 550-horsepower engine. Sticker price: $104,000, which is actually a bargain for a car of such stupendous power and performance.

The BMW, meanwhile, had a 320-horsepower, turbo-charged inline 6-cylinder engine. And no AWD. It costs $43,000.

About the only thing these two cars have in common is that they both have two doors. 

They certainly don't have in common my love or affection. I was grateful that Jaguar allowed us to enjoy some track time with what is, in many respects, a road-going race car. But as stunning as the F-Type R is when you let it run free, the car left me with nagging impression that I just didn't like it all that much. 

It took about two days of thinking about this to figure out what was bugging me.

It's that the car is pretentious. The car the F-Type is supposed to evoke is the legendary Jaguar E-Type, regarded by many as the most beautiful car of all time. The E-Type is special: the car is all sleek curves, and not one of them is out of place. It looks like it was drawn up by the Almighty and carved by Da Vinci. For my money, it's the only car ever built that deserves to be called a work of art. 

F comes after E, so the F-Type was conceived to be a modern-day version of the E-Type. It certainly has presence. But that presence is loud. The E-Type whispered. The F-Type roars. 

Not that the Jag can be entirely blamed for being pretentious. There's an arms race afoot in the luxury sports-car market to present oodles of power and potency in a strutting, self-confident package. Jag needs to keep up and would clearly fret if it couldn't.

For what it's worth, the M235i is also a product of history — specifically, the smaller BMWs of the early 1980s through the early 1990s. These were versatile, relatively luxurious sport coupes that were (and still are) flat-out a blast to drive, particularly the high-performance M3. The M235i isn't actually an "M" version of the current 2 Series (M is BMW's performance division). So although it isn't an M2, it is a much snazzier version of the base 2 Series coupe. (Also, BMW hasn't held back on the M badging, so confusion is understandable.)

This is not a pretentious car. But it is the best way in the world to turn a half a tank of gas into acceleration and handling over the course of a few hours. It weighs in at 3,400 lbs. — only about 200 less than the Jag. So while the F-Type is objectively much faster — 0-60 mph in 3.8 second versus the Bimmer's 4.4 — the BMW feels quicker. 

Mind you, the BMW isn't burdened with the same aesthetic legacy as the F-Type. It looks sharp, but adding a few angles, swoops, and a pair of raptor-like headlights is enough to greatly amplify the utilitarian impression made by the M235i's '80s ancestors.

This is all a deeply subjective assessment. Some of it can be blamed on the Jag's personality, which is literally full of sound and fury. The exhaust bellows like a beautifully dressed, overmuscled Englishman who just took a few grand off the house at a craps table in Vegas.

The M235i exudes synthesized motor sounds that are a cheerful tenor to the Jag's boastful baritone (the engine and exhaust noises, due to technology not as lively on its own as BMW's engineers would like, are sonically augmented and piped through the car's stereo speakers).

Driving this dashing little thing isn't exactly the most viscerally satisfying experience I've ever had behind the wheel — that honor would go to my 1997 Mazda Miata, in particular in November 2005 when I had to get my laboring wife to the hospital, a run from Pasadena to Los Angeles as the sun was setting so we could ultimately welcome our now car-crazy son, James, into the world — but the experience was still quite visceral. 

I opened the sunroof and rolled the windows down and put it in Sport+ mode and worked the paddle shifters in automanual mode to have loads of fun with 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears. For the record, this is what it feels like to drive a Sidewinder missile. And also for the record, BMW has done such a fine job with the transmission that you can use the paddles or go semi-old-school with the shifter and experience a passable imitation of handling a stick.

The car isn't without a few drawbacks, starting with the need to commit to a modest passenger load. It's a 2+2 — two seats in the front, two in the rear. I could smash my family of five into my old Saab 900S. No dice with the BMW. I'm also still not much of a fan of BMW's iDrive system, and for the most part, the infotainment setup in the M235i compares unfavorably with what you can get in a Chevy Trax.

On the plus side, the age-old BMW problem, that the "ultimate driving machine" is built around the driver, with everyone else in the relegated to afterthought status, has been solved, somewhat. My wife has ridden shotgun in countless cars at this point and she now holds the 235i in high esteem.

And for the driver, the "cockpit" nature of his side of the car is as dandy as ever. The moderately bolstered, highly adjustable seat, the wonderful feel of both the steering wheel and the steering itself, the clean analog instruments complemented by various low-key digital screens — this is a comfortable car to drive fast or slow, to both cruise in and corner hard with confidence.

You can effectively switch your passion for driving on and off with the M235i. When you find yourself on the right road at the right time, it's ready to go. 

Now back to the F-Type. This is the kind of car that incessantly reminds you that its large and in charge. It wears absolutely nothing lightly. For many, this would be a welcome burden: Look at me! Look me! Hear me! Hear me! 

I don't begrudge anyone that, but for me, it replaces the basic joy of driving with something else. You are, to a degree, a celebrity in an F-Type — moreso in the F-Type R. In the the M235i, you are just someone with a great car that can do cool things. The smiles will come unexpectedly — you'll catch yourself in a grin. With the Jag, you'll demand it.

As I already said, not a fair comparison. Subjective as hell. But when you drive a lot of cars, you need to figure out what you genuinely like. There is that which impresses. And there is that which makes a connection.

In the M235i, you merge with the machine. With the Jaguar F-Type R, you don't.

SEE ALSO: I Spent A Weekend Driving The Most Beautiful Car I've Ever Seen — The Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How one simple mistake cost 'Real Housewives' superstar Bethenny Frankel millions

On Sunday, the greatest British cyclist alive, Sir Bradley Wiggins, will attempt to set a new hour record, one of the most prestigious, and most difficult, achievements in all of cycling.

The 2012 Tour de France winner and Olympic champion will try to ride well past the existing record of 52.937 kilometers, or about 32.894 miles, at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London. 

Many think that Wiggo, as he's called, will have no problem breaking the current record held by compatriot Alex Dowsett, who rode 52.937 kilometers earlier this year. Some say he's looking to go 55 kilometers, or about 34 miles.

The special bike he's going to ride is the Pinarello Bolide HR, co-engineered by Jaguar and Italian bicycle manufacturer Pinarello. Wiggins is calling it "the most aerodynamic track bike I've ever ridden."

Here are the photos released by Jaguar (you can read the full press release below):

The hashtag #MyHour on the top tube of his bike will help motivate Wiggins on Sunday.

Here's a good overview video of the hour record, and what Wiggins will be trying to do on Sunday (via The Guardian):

The full press release from Jaguar:

Pinarello & Jaguar Co-Engineer UCI Hour Record Bolide HR Bike for Sir Bradley Wiggins

• Sir Bradley Wiggins to ride the Pinarello Bolide HR at the Lee Valley VeloPark on Sunday 7June for UCI Hour Record
• Jaguar lends its world class expertise in aerodynamics for modification of Wiggins' World Time Trial Pinarello Bolide frame
• The same CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) design methods used to develop the Jaguar XE, the most aerodynamic car Jaguar have ever produced, applied to the Bolide HR
• The Bolide HR has an overall aerodynamic performance increase of 7.5% largely down to a new one-piece titanium handlebar, narrow fork and chainstay design
• Sir Bradley Wiggins hails the Jaguar Pinarello Bolide HR as "the most aerodynamic track bike I've ever ridden"

British sporting icon Sir Bradley Wiggins will attempt to break the UCI Hour Record on a new Pinarello Bolide HR bike, which has been co-engineered by Jaguar and Italian bicycle manufacturers, Pinarello.

The UCI-sanctioned Bolide HR track bicycle, which has been optimised for Sunday's Hour Record based on Wiggins' World Time Trial-winning Pinarello road model, possesses a revolutionary one-piece titanium handlebar and frameset to ensure the perfect aerodynamic performance.

Sir Bradley Wiggins said: "The UCI Hour Record is the toughest challenge of human performance in cycling, where every fraction of a second matters.

"I've worked with Jaguar's performance engineers since 2010, and their world class knowledge and experience in aerodynamics, combined with Pinarello's expert frame building, gives me confidence that I can set a new standard on Sunday.

"The Bolide HR is the most aerodynamically efficient track bike I've ever ridden."

Using the same methods and taking key insights from the technology-leading work on Jaguar Land Rover road cars, Jaguar's engineers have applied their advanced aerodynamics knowledge to help create an overall aerodynamic performance increase of 7.5%.

The same CFD [Computational Fluid Dynamics] design methods used to develop the Jaguar XE, the most aerodynamic car Jaguar have ever produced, were part of a comprehensive study of the world class Bolide frame where every component was analysed to inform modifications.

The Pinarello Bolide HR contains a completely re-designed one-piece handlebar system to optimise Wiggins' interaction with the bike. Laser Sintering Technology has been applied to create a deeply re-shaped titanium handlebar, including the removal of the brakes, gear levers and an innovative arm rest area to reduce air pressure and drag.

Jaguar and Pinarello have narrowed the fork design, making it closer to the front disc wheel, to enhance airflow in the bottom bracket area. Other key component changes from the Bolide road bike include the enhancement of the front fork surface, and re-shaping of the chainring and wheel hubs to optimise the bike's aerodynamic capability.

"Jaguar has a talented team of engineers with a great depth of aerodynamic knowledge, so we're very proud to be able to work on this collaboration with Pinarello," said John Pitman, Principal CFD Aerodynamicist at Jaguar Land Rover.

Pitman added: "Applying this level of engineering capability and analysis to the development of bikes is still very new in cycling, and showcases the industry-leading expertise and facilities we have at Jaguar Land Rover."

Pinarello has a long-standing affiliation with the Hour Record, most notably in 1994 when the Italian bike manufacturer developed the Pinarello Espada for Miguel Indurain during his successful record attempt.

"I'm extremely honoured to be involved in creating this special Bolide HR for Bradley's Hour Record challenge, twenty years after the last model we designed for Miguel Indurain," said Fausto Pinarello, CEO of Pinarello.

"Our relationship with Bradley, as well as Jaguar during our years as fellow partners of Team Sky continues to ensure Pinarello are creating world class, high performance bikes."

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Sir Bradley Wiggins is a British sporting legend, who has been integral to Jaguar's global cycling sponsorship. Being able to co-engineer Wiggins' Bolide HR bike and continue our excellent partnership with Pinarello helps Jaguar illustrate its world class engineering credentials to a global audience."

SEE ALSO: Why cyclists shave their legs

DON'T MISS Barry Bonds spent $20K on one of the rarest bikes

SEE ALSO: Why cycling — not golf — is the new sport of choice for young professionals

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: NYC Bike Messenger: Cab Drivers Are Not The Biggest Problem On The Road

Not that long ago, the idea of a Jaguar SUV seemed preposterous.  

Now Jaguar is just months away from unveiling its new F-Pace SUV, and there’s mounting talking of a second high-riding model from the British brand.  

Jaguar, like many of the major automakers, is simply meeting the market’s demands. SUVs recently overtook sedans in new car sales here in the U.S., and it’s a trend that’s being repeated elsewhere. 

While there have been rumors that Jaguar’s next SUV might be a large, seven-seat model dubbed the J-Pace or even F-Grace—you, know, as in Jaguar’s historic catchphrase “grace, space and pace”—the more likely option would be the automaker launching a compact model to take on the likes of the new BMW X1 as well as the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. The F-Pace, meanwhile, rivals small SUVs like the X3, Q5 and upcoming GLC. 

CAR is reporting that Jaguar’s second SUV, which is doing the rounds as an E-Pace, is still under consideration. The plan would be to twin the vehicle with the next Land Rover Range Rover Evoque to cut costs and speed up development. Such a move would mean production facilities could also be shared. 

Should the green light be given, don’t expect a launch date until the end of the decade.

SEE ALSO: The Jaguar XJL is traditional English luxury with sexy catlike curves

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 1998 supercar could auction for $15 million

Recently, Motor Trend did a Head-to-Head test between the BMW 335i M Sport and all-new Jaguar XE S. This might be a bit of a spoiler, but the folks over at Motor Trend seemed to like the new Jag just a bit more than the Bimmer, claiming it to feel just a little bit sportier of the two. Now, in fairness, they did mention that the Bimmer was aging a bit compared to the fresh-out-of-the-box Jag and that a refreshed LCI version was coming soon to give the XE S a more fair fight. However, they still felt that this Jag was the better sport sedan of the two.

I’m not here to dispute their findings or opinions. Without having driven the XE S, I can’t say whether or not their claims are untrue. Actually, having been in the new XE S at the NYIAS, I can attest for the superb interior quality and style. So I’m not particularly surprised that this new Jag gave BMW a run for its money. But what I’m really here to talk about is just how many newcomers are taking shots at the BMW 3 Series’ crown.

The 3 Series has held the title of the best luxury sport sedan on the market for decades. It’s had little to no threats at that title for as long as I can remember. However, within the past few years, a number of surprising automakers have been taking some well-aimed shots at the Bavarian brand. The usual contenders, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, haven’t been BMW’s biggest threats. Instead it’s been Cadillac, Lexus and now Jaguar. All three of those brands were considered jokes in the 3 Series dominated segment, right up until the new ATS, IS350 F-Sport and XE S debuted.

With all of these newcomers making such great cars, the Mercedes’ C Class becoming probably the finest luxury car in the segment and Audi readying a new A4, how much longer can BMW keep the 3 Series at the top?

BMW claims that the LCI F30 3 Series will be better in almost every single way than the pre-LCI version. It’s said to have chassis and steering modifications, improved interior quality and better engines. But will it be enough though? The F30 3 Series is probably the most controversial 3 Series of all time, having received more mixed reviews than any before it. So will these improvements be enough to stave off the increasingly aggressive competition?

I actually think so. Despite what so many publications might say about BMW, it’s still a company that knows how to make proper sports car and has been doing it longer than its competition. I think BMW may have gotten a bit complacent from sitting at the top for so long, but with the increasing competition, I think BMW knows what it needs to do to make the 3 Series great again. I think this LCI will land the 3 Series back in contention for the segment crown.

SEE ALSO: BMW sales are roaring

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch this fish drive a remote-controlled car

Tesla has captivated the world, but consumer demand for electric vehicles is actually still quite low. 

The problem is batteries. The technology has a long way to go in order to be long-range as well as affordable.

Tesla has delivered the range. But it hasn't yet come through on the affordability front.

Tesla has been joined by other automakers in producing fully electric vehicles. But Jaguar Land Rover is remaining more cautious. The car maker is waiting for EV technology to improve, which it hopes will increase demand for electric cars. 

Automotive News Europe reported that Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth voiced these concerns in a keynote speech on June 19 in the UK. 

“Customers are not impressed with it currently,” he told the Automotive News Europe Congress in Birmingham, speaking of EV technology.

“Battery technology today is still too heavy, too expensive and the [power] density is too low,” he said, following his keynote speech at the event. “As we learned at school, there's this correlation between mass and energy and as long as this is not favorable, even if you recuperate, this is an issue.” 

According to the publication, Land Rover is currently developing technology for fully electric vehicles, and has already produced an electric concept known as the Project Evoque E.  

Tesla, which is building a massive factory in Nevada to produce batteries for its vehicles as well as homes, is preparing to start deliveries of its Model X fully electric SUV in the third quarter of 2015.

SEE ALSO: Drone fly-over shows how huge the Tesla Gigafactory is

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what really happens at a Tesla Supercharger station

The Range Rover Evoque is a major cog in Jaguar Land Rover's expansion into China.

Last week, a speed bump in JLR's China plan appeared in showrooms in the form of the Landwind X7.

This is because — aesthetically — the X7 is virtually indistinguishable from the Evoque.

And it looks as if the Chinese carmaker has a fair number of customers waiting to take delivery of the X7.

According to Bloomberg, 5,500 buyers have put down deposits for an X7, which sells for roughly $21,700.

That's only fraction of the $65,000 to $90,000 it takes to drive home in an authentic Evoque in China.

"We do not want to comment on the specifics relating to Landwind X7," a Jaguar Land Rover representative told Business Insider in an email.

"But it's safe to say protecting our intellectual property is something we take very seriously."

The Chinese crossover first appeared in November 2014 at the Guangzhou Auto Show in southern China. At the show, Jaguar design director Ian Callum tweeted out photos of the X7 while wryly pointing out the similarities between the Landwind and the Evoque.

The Chinese Evoque facsimile appeared again in April at the Shanghai Auto Show, where it drew the ire of Jaguar Land Rover — a subsidiary of India's Tata Group.

"I really regret that all of a sudden copy-paste is coming up again," Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth told the press at the Shanghai Auto Show. "That will not help the reputation of China, of Chinese industry at all."

JLR, however, believes China's intellectual-property laws will not be able to provide the company with sufficient legal recourse.

"There are no laws  to protect us, so we have to take it as it is," Speth told reporters in April. "In Europe, we can be protected against this kind of copy-paste in the design language, in the features but also the technology."

"You can't be protected in China," Speth added.

But with a large difference in price between the two cars, it's debatable that someone in the market for the Landwind could afford the Evoque, which costs three to four times as much. And someone in the market for a $90,000 Range Rover is unlikely to be appeased by an imitation. As a result, direct financial damage to JLR because of lost sales is likely to be minimal.

Where Jaguar Land Rover is likely to suffer damage from a Chinese copy of the Evoque, however, is from the dilution of its trademark and design. JLR has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to design and develop the look, feel, and performance of the Range Rover. That is in addition to the countless millions the company has poured into marketing and building up the value of its trademark. The presence of a knockoff could fool some less sophisticated buyers into believing the Chinese derivative is somehow related to Range Rover.

Mechanically, the Landwind X7 is very different from the Evoque. The Chinese crossover is powered by a Mitsubishi-sourced 188-horsepower, 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four-cylinder engine. The Range Rover, on the other hand, is powered by a 240-horsepower Ford Ecoboost turbocharged inline-four cylinder.

Landwind, a joint venture between China's Changan Auto and Jiangling Motors, produces a series of SUVs sold predominantly for the Chinese domestic market. Landwind did make history in 2005, however, when it became the first Chinese automaker to export its vehicles to Europe.

The 1989-1998 Isuzu Rodeo-based X6 was imported to the Netherlands for a short time, but it didn't sell well after news surfaced of the car's spectacularly poor showing at Germany's ADAC crash tests, scoring a zero out of five.

The company's most expensive offering today is the two-door X9 priced at $23,500. The X9 is based on the discontinued Isuzu Amigo. According to Car News China, Landwind is producing the vehicle under license from Isuzu.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Volvo is going to compete with high-performance BMWs and Mercedes

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This car drew more crowds than any other car we have driven

Jaguar’s new F-PACE will be revealed in full at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, but the company is trying to pique interest during the run-up to the show by bragging about the new vehicle's rigorous testing program.

The British luxury manufacturer claims it has tested the new high-end crossover at its test facility in northern Sweden, where temperatures routinely drop as low as 40 below zero.

At the other end of the spectrum, the F-Pace has faced searing temperatures, scorching sun, and blowing sand in the Arabian Peninsula.

Business Insider will be providing continuous coverage of the Frankfurt Auto Show next month, highlighting industry news and new vehicles. 

SEE ALSO: These are the first images of Audi's answer to the Tesla Model X

“We developed the F-Pace to offer the ride, handling, and refinement demanded from a Jaguar,” said Andrew Whyman, vehicle program director for the F-Pace.

“We've exhaustively tested the F-Pace in the most challenging conditions to ensure that it will exceed the expectations of our customers.” Notice that the camouflage hasn't come off yet.

These climates put all aspects of a vehicle to the test. From ice and snow to dust and heat, a vehicle has to be in top shape to drive in Dubai or Sweden.

NOW WATCH: 'Shark Tank' investor Robert Herjavec reveals the one trait successful entrepreneurs share

Tesla has been making waves in the automotive world for a few years now.

But as the electric automaker expands its scale, sales, and brand reputation, the company's mainstream counterparts are beginning to take notice.

Recently, both Audi and Aston Martin have announced their intentions to produce electric vehicles to rival Tesla. 

Now, it looks like Jaguar could be putting its hat in the ring as well.

According to Autocar's Tom Webster, Jaguar recently applied to trademark the name "EV-Type."

Webster believes the EV-Type could be an electric variant of Jaguar's upcoming F-PACE SUV. 

Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment on the matter when Business Insider reached out to the company. 

However, Jaguar design director Ian Callum told Business Insider in an interview at the New York Auto Show earlier this year that the company is actively engaged in the development of hybrid and electric drivetrain technology. 

"I'll be honest with you. We are working on (electric and hybrid technology) quite thoroughly," Callum said. "We have to be because at some point we are going to have to have zero emissions vehicles in the fleet. We've got no choice."

"The big challenge for the future is emissions. The electric car, hybrid cars, and the plug-in hybrid. They are all inevitable," Callum added. 

Power for Jaguar's current US lineup is dominated by a duo of supercharged V6 and V8 engines. Although the pair are silky smooth, technologically advanced and offer incredible performance, they don't achieve the type of gas mileage that's friendly to strict government fuel economy standards.

The potential of an electric powered F-PACE is immense. It could very well make a compelling and stylish alternative to Tesla's highly anticipated Model X crossover. 

However, there's no information available on the performance capabilities of the rumored EV-Type. As a result, it is difficult to say whether Jaguar can match Tesla's claimed 300 mile electric range and sub-4-second 0-60 mph acceleration time. 

The F-PACE is Jaguar's first SUV and is based on the C-X17 concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. The production F-PACE is expected to arrive in the US as a 2016 model. 

Last week, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told David Undercoffler of the Automotive News that the company plans to launch an electric version of the Rapide sedan in two years.

In addition, Palmer also confirmed that Aston is looking to introduce an electric crossover coupe based on the DBX concept car that debuted earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show.

Earlier this month, Audi announced that it is planning to introduce a line of all-electric vehicles beginning in 2018. 

Leading the pack will be Audi's new e-tron quattro electric crossover concept set to debut at September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

With an expected range of more than 310 miles, the e-tron concept will serve as the basis for Audi's first mass produced electric SUV that should challenge the Model X.

The Tesla Model X crossover is expected to launch this fall and will join the current Model S sedan in the company's lineup. With an available 90 kWh battery pack, the Model X is expected to have a range of around 300 miles. According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Ludicrous Mode engaged Model X is projected to be able to reach 60 mph from a standstill in a supercar-shaming 3.2 seconds. 

SEE ALSO: BMW paid homage to one of its greatest race cars by building this gorgeous concept

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: BMW made the first hybrid you won't be embarrassed to be seen driving

Sales of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles in North America will most likely rise by more than 14 percent this year, higher than the current year-to-date growth, the luxury British carmaker's chief executive for the region said on Tuesday.

The automaker, owned by India's Tata Group since 2008, has seen sales in China dive 29 percent but has recorded strong growth in the United States and Canada, helping to compensate for the downturn.

Joe Eberhardt said that the pace of growth in North American sales should pick up further in the next couple of months.

"We will, with the improved supply, I think beat that number over the next couple of months," Eberhardt told Reuters in an interview at the Frankfurt auto show.

Jaguar launched its first crossover sports utility vehicle at the Frankfurt show, which Eberhardt said should help balance sales between the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

Jaguar sales fell by 4.4 percent in the United States, compared to a 20.5 percent rise for Land Rover in the first eight months of this year, according to Autodata Corp. Land Rover has accounted for around 80 percent of JLR sales in the United States this year.

Eberhardt also told Reuters that the United States lost out to Slovakia for the production a new Jaguar Land Rover model partly due to labor costs.

In August, JLR said it had signed a letter of intent to build a new plant in Slovakia after ruling out a number of alternative overseas locations in Europe, the United States and Mexico.

"You wouldn't have saved enough with the current product to make a viable proposition in the U.S," Eberhardt said, citing "the relatively high labor cost in the U.S., at least compared to other potential places in Eastern Europe."

Jaguar Land Rover is undergoing a major expansion strategy for its model lineup and production, said Eberhardt, who added that the United States could land future manufacturing, depending on a number of circumstances including tariffs.

"We continuously look at what other opportunities there are... I'm not ruling it out," he said of producing on U.S. soil.

(Editing by William Hardy)

Join the conversation about this story »

In "Spectre," James Bond's 24th adventure, the car driven by the villain is getting as much attention as, if not more than, 007's iconic Aston Martin (a DB10, this time around). In the film, a villainous henchman, called "Mr. Hinx," driving an orange Jaguar C-X75, engages in a high-speed chase with Bond's bespoke Aston through the streets of Rome.

Although Bond's Q-prepared Aston Martin is an absolute work of art, one can't help but be impressed by the sexy, or possibly terrifying, Jaguar.

"The C-X75 programme represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's engineering and design expertise," Jaguar global brand director Adrian Hallmark said in a statement. "It is arguably the world's fastest test-bed for the world's most advanced technologies, combining as it does a remarkable hybrid powertrain with awe-inspiring performance."

For most people, the Jaguar C-X75 is a stunning movie prop. But the reality is that the car has lived a short, but eventful, life filled with stunning achievement and untapped potential.

Here's a closer look at the sleek super car.

"Spectre" is playing in US theaters now. 

SEE ALSO: Check out James Bond's greatest cars

Last year, Jaguar rolled out its "Good to be Bad" advertising campaign with a glorious Super Bowl Commercial.

But with the latest Bond flick, Jag has taken it to another level.

Not only is Jaguar providing the main villain car — its Land Rover sister brand will provide a Defender and Range Rover Sport SVR for evil transportation, as well.

In "Spectre"— James Bond's 24th adventure, which opened last week — the car driven by the villain got as much attention as, if not more than, 007's iconic Aston Martin (a DB10, this time around). In the film, a villainous henchman, called "Mr. Hinx," driving an orange Jaguar C-X75, engages in a high-speed chase with Bond's bespoke Aston through the streets of Rome.

Although Bond's Q-prepared Aston Martin is an absolute work of art, one can't help but be impressed by the sexy, or possibly terrifying, Jaguar.

"The C-X75 programme represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's engineering and design expertise," Jaguar global brand director Adrian Hallmark said in a statement. "It is arguably the world's fastest test-bed for the world's most advanced technologies, combining as it does a remarkable hybrid powertrain with awe-inspiring performance."

For most people, the Jaguar C-X75 is a stunning movie prop. But the reality is that the car has lived a short, but eventful, life filled with stunning achievement and untapped potential.

Here's a closer look at the sleek super car.

"Spectre" is playing in US theaters. 

SEE ALSO: Check out James Bond's greatest cars

Last year, Jaguar rolled out its "Good to be Bad" advertising campaign with a glorious Super Bowl Commercial.

But with the latest Bond flick, Jag has taken it to another level.

Not only is Jaguar providing the main villain car — its Land Rover sister brand will provide a Defender and Range Rover Sport SVR for evil transportation, as well.

Into the category of things people don't generally don't need, you can include boomerangs, pet lions, and personal submarines.

You might think you could easily add "convertible SUV," but then you wouldn't be Jaguar Land Rover, which on Wednesday unveiled its Range Rover Evoque Convertible at the LA Auto Show.

This wasn't a vehicle that was greeted with overwhelmingly good vibes when it was first announced earlier this year, despite the superb track record of the Evoque, a midsized crossover that has sold well for JLR. The hangover from the ill-fated Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, which arrived in 2011 and will soon depart, leaving the Evoque Convertible as the only off-road ragtop in the market.

Everyone thought the CrossCabriolet was daffy, according the boomerangs-lions-submarines analysis. It follows that the Evoque cabrio would fall prey to its inherent illogic. The other car that JLR revealed in LA is quite logical: the Jaguar F-Pace ultra-luxury SUV. Brilliant! SUVs and luxury cars in many ways define the current US auto market, and Jag didn't have one.

The Evoque Convertible is a different story, by design. And JLR admits that it isn't likely to see very many, although they think its could be a hit in LA, where anything that can lower its roof has a shot at success. The car's designer, Gerry McGovern, didn't express particular grand ambitions for the car when asked about it by Business Insider. But he did stress that it's capitalizing on an opportunity in the market.

When the vehicle as revealed, he didn't back down from celebrating its rugged bona fides. This is, according to JLR, every bit a Range Rover. "It can wade through 20 inches of deep water," McGovern enthused. 

It's an "all-season" convertible, he said, as comfortable on a sunsplashed LA boulevard as at an Alpine ski resort. In other words, it's a legit off-roader. You don't have to put it away when the weather would have you retiring most drop-tops.

"It can tackle challenges without compromise," McGovern said, speaking as a Englishman who doesn't mind motoring through sunshine, downpour, and everything in between, with nothing between him and heavens but sky.

A big challenge, of course, will be convincing customers that a convertible SUV is something worth wanting. A cynic might say that a booming car market in which a luxury automaker feels confident enough in the upward trajectory of sales to debut an SUV that comes with its own sunburn-delivering system is a market that has topped out. Indeed, we may look back at November 2015, as the US auto market surges toward an annual sales tally of 18 million new vehicles and the Range Rover Evoque Convertible landed, as the official beginning of a downturn.

But maybe not. In person, the Evoque Convertible is rather impressive. It looks like it makes sense, as an open-air off-roader. McGovern had spoken in the past of how folks outside JLR told him he was nuts to create the Evoque in the first place. Obviously, he wasn't.

Nobody thought the world needed a little Range Rover. They were wrong. Perhaps the notion that the Evoque can't possible lose its roof is just as mistaken.

SEE ALSO: Fiat's new 124 Spider brings old-school Italian driving pleasure to America

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the gargantuan aircraft carrier France sent to fight ISIS

When you wait a long time for something, you should be rewarded. That's what happened this week at the LA Auto Show, when Jaguar Land Rover finally and officially revealed its much-anticipated F-Pace crossover SUV in North America.

There has never been a Jag truck before (the XF Sportbrake station wagon, not sold in the US, doesn't count). But given the importance of these vehicles now for luxury automakers, its was overdue. Jag has sedans and sports cars, but it was lagging behind corporate siblings Land Rover and Range Rover, which of course sell SUVs and nothing else.

For anyone who adores the sleek lines of the legendary Jaguar E-Type, probably the most drop-dead gorgeous automobile ever created, the very idea of a Jag truck is horrifying. But if you're going to have one, it should look great.

And thanks to Jaguar designer Ian Callum, it does. In fact, it looks better than great. It's easily the most beautiful SUV to (soon) hit the road.

Which is a bit weird. But also understandable. The other car in the Jag stable that should showcase Ian's considerable talent is the F-Type sports car. But I've never liked it very much. Compared with another Callum design, the Aston Martin DB9 (and before it, the DB7), the F-Type to my eye comes off as musclebound and thick, like a thug in an overly tailored suit who needs brag about how much he just won (or lost) and the craps table.

I'm in a distinct minority here — pretty much everyone else thinks the F-Type is a glorious set of wheels, poetry in sheet metal.

However, you can kind of see my point if you study at the F-Pace and see that same loudmouth thug in a suit that properly envelopes his bulk. The F-Type is too big. The F-Pace is just right — in its bigness Callum has found the correct scale to execute on his current vision.

The F-Pace is "the latest expression of Jaguar's passion" Callum said when the car was unveiled this week at the LA Auto Show.

"It's not just a Jaguar you want," he added, "it's a Jaguar you need."

Hubba.

"Even your kids will think it's cool," Callum quipped, wryly taking aim at a market that Jaguar has regrettably left untouched during the SUV revival of the past few years: parents who need to haul around offspring, gear, pets, and friends of offspring, with their gear and maybe even their pets.

For Jaguar's chief designer, the F-Pace and its equally new sibling in the Jag family, the XE sedan, a circle has been closed. He said in LA that 15 years ago he had set out to create a portfolio of vehicles for Jaguar that would be "modern, progressive, and elegant." 

His deservedly immodest verdict on his track record over a decade and a half is that he and Jaguar have succeeded.

The F-Pace makes it tough to argue with that judgment, even given my reservations about the F-Type. If you ponder the vehicle, you can see how Callum retained the basic headlight-to-taillight line that defines the F-Type, a clean, smooth, almost dagger- or sword-like sweep. But for the F-Pace, he took that line and elevated it, providing the required sense of ruggedness below, through the crossover's raised heft. Balancing that is the elegant curve of the roofline.

This is preposterously beautiful truck. Compare it with the BMW X6 M, a car of similar scale but far more baffling aesthetics — an angry beast of a car, bulging and thrusting everywhere:

And unlike the SUVs in Jag's corporate stable, from Land Rover and Range Rover, the F-Pace eschews a utilitarian, boxy shape for tailoring that's sleek and sinuous. It looks quick, and it looks quick without too much effort. 

It's competition, looks-wise, is mainly the Porsche Cayenne, but that groundbreaking luxury SUV is hampered by optics that have always made Porsches less lovely, by a long shot, than Jags. The bug-eyed front, though streamlined in recent decades, can never be fully renounced. Jags, by contrast, have in their DNA those signature swept-back headlight pods that much of the auto industry has copied.

So there you have it. If you want an SUV but have always hated how they look, the F-Pace has arrived to scratch your itch. And to scratch it beautifully.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Volvo crawled back from the brink of extinction

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The cheapest new Ferrari money can buy is absolutely gorgeous

The 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show has yet again given us a glorious look into the future of motoring. We've also seen some upcoming models that will probably fly off showroom floors like Jaguar's first SUV, the F-Pace, and Alfa Romeo's BMW M3 killer, the Giulia Quadrifoglio sedan.

But there's another exhibit that offers a glimpse of some of the cars you may not find in large quantities on dealer lots. Some of these cars were featured in the Galpin Motors Hall of Customs at the show.

The Lotus Exige V6 Cup R is one of the lightest examples of this mid-engine sports coupe. It weighs just under 2,300 pounds.

Aston Martin somehow keeps the DB series looking timeless. This DB9 is just one example.

The newly redesigned Mazda MX-5 Miata gets a relatively low-key custom treatment here.

Jaguar has officially revealed its first SUV at the LA Auto Show. And it might just be the most beautiful SUV on Earth. 

Produced by Justin Gmoser. Original reporting by Matthew DeBord. 

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

Volvo is on a roll. The Swedish automaker just had its best month in the company's 88-year history with nearly 50,000 cars sold worldwide in November. Business was particularly good in the US, where sales jumped more than 90% on the back of the successful introduction of the company's XC90 luxury SUV.

Today, Volvo unveiled its new flagship sedan — the S90. The company's new large luxury sedan will be the second model — after the XC90 — to be built on Volvo's flexible Scalable Product Architecture platform. It's also the latest product to emerge from an $11 billion research and development investment made by Volvo's parent company, Geely Group.

"With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be — we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand," Volvo Cars president and CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, said in a statement. "With the launch of the XC90 we made a clear statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game."

Although Volvo hasn't always fashioned itself as a luxury brand, the company has generally always offered a large executive sedan for its loyal legion of customers. The brand's current luxury flagship — the S80— has been on the market for a decade and is ready for retirement.

SEE ALSO: Volvo's transformation into a luxury brand has been a long time coming

Volvo introduced the new S90 to the motoring press on Wednesday at the company's headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The S90 will replaced the current generation S80 sedan, which has been on sale since 2006.

The new S90 will share the Volvo lineup with the ...

When you wait a long time for something, you should be rewarded.

That's what happened last month at the LA Auto Show, when Jaguar Land Rover finally and officially revealed its much-anticipated F-Pace crossover SUV in North America.

There has never been a Jag truck before (the XF Sportbrake station wagon, not sold in the US, doesn't count).

But given the importance of these vehicles now for luxury automakers, its was overdue. Jag has sedans and sports cars, but it was lagging behind corporate siblings Land Rover and Range Rover, which of course sell SUVs and nothing else.

For anyone who adores the sleek lines of the legendary Jaguar E-Type, probably the most drop-dead gorgeous automobile ever created, the very idea of a Jag truck is horrifying. But if you're going to have one, it should look great.

And thanks to Jaguar designer Ian Callum, it does. In fact, it looks better than great. It's easily the most beautiful SUV to (soon) hit the road.

Which is a bit weird. But also understandable. The other car in the Jag stable that should showcase Ian's considerable talent is the F-Type sports car. But I've never liked it very much. Compared with another Callum design, the Aston Martin DB9 (and before it, the DB7), the F-Type to my eye comes off as musclebound and thick, like a thug in an overly tailored suit who needs brag about how much he just won (or lost) and the craps table.

I'm in a distinct minority here — pretty much everyone else thinks the F-Type is a glorious set of wheels, poetry in sheet metal.

However, you can kind of see my point if you study at the F-Pace and see that same loudmouth thug in a suit that ia properly tailored to envelope his bulk. The F-Type is too big. The F-Pace is just right — in its bigness Callum has found the correct scale to execute on his current vision.

The F-Pace is "the latest expression of Jaguar's passion" Callum said when the car was unveiled in LA, in front of a massive media crowd.

"It's not just a Jaguar you want," he added, "it's a Jaguar you need."

Hubba.

"Even your kids will think it's cool," Callum quipped, wryly taking aim at a market that Jaguar has regrettably left untouched during the SUV revival of the past few years: parents who need to haul around offspring, gear, pets, and friends of offspring, with their gear and maybe even their pets.

For Jaguar's chief designer, the F-Pace and its equally new sibling in the Jag family, the XE sedan, a circle has been closed. He said in LA that 15 years ago he had set out to create a portfolio of vehicles for Jaguar that would be "modern, progressive, and elegant." 

His deservedly immodest verdict on his track record over a decade and a half is that he and Jaguar have succeeded.

The F-Pace makes it tough to argue with that judgment, even given my reservations about the F-Type. If you ponder the vehicle, you can see how Callum retained the basic headlight-to-taillight line that defines the F-Type, a clean, smooth, almost dagger- or sword-like sweep. But for the F-Pace, he took that line and elevated it, providing the required sense of ruggedness below, through the crossover's raised heft. Balancing that is the elegant curve of the roofline.

This is preposterously beautiful truck. Compare it with the BMW X6 M, a car of similar scale but far more baffling aesthetics — an angry beast of a car, bulging and thrusting everywhere:

And unlike the SUVs in Jag's corporate stable, from Land Rover and Range Rover, the F-Pace eschews a utilitarian, boxy shape for tailoring that's sleek and sinuous. It looks quick, and it looks quick without too much effort. 

It's competition, looks-wise, is mainly the Porsche Cayenne, but that groundbreaking luxury SUV is hampered by optics that have always made Porsches less lovely, by a long shot, than Jags. The bug-eyed front, though streamlined in recent decades, can never be fully renounced. Jags, by contrast, have in their DNA those signature swept-back headlight pods that much of the auto industry has copied.

So there you have it. If you want an SUV but have always hated how they look, the F-Pace has arrived to scratch your itch. And to scratch it beautifully.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Volvo crawled back from the brink of extinction

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The cheapest new Ferrari money can buy is absolutely gorgeous