JAGUAR ANNOUNCES NEW LOOK FOR SPORTS CAR

F-TYPE Refresh Features Exterior And Interior Design Upgrades…

The Jaguar F-TYPE, a two-door, two-seater sports car built by British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is poised for a refresh, according to the company, which recently released details of the redesign.

“Design the most beautiful sports car, with purity, proportion and presence that’s unmistakably Jaguar: that was the challenge we set ourselves,” said Julian Thomson, Jaguar design director. “The new F-TYPE is more dramatic than ever, with even greater clarity of purpose in every line, surface and feature, and embodies true Jaguar design DNA.”

The new 2021 F-TYPE will offer three engines types: four, six and eight-cylinder options, all matched to eight-speed transmissions. Powertrain-specific exhaust pipes emerge from the rear diffuser, signaling the car’s performance intent, and offering three options: a 296hp turbocharged four cylinder, a 380hp supercharged V6, distinguished by two large round tailpipes, and the 575hp supercharged V8, identified by quad outboard exhausts with etched R branding.

Design-wise, the car melds luxurious materials and finishes. Super-slim LED headlights with updated “Calligraphy” signature J daytime running lights blend into the “liquid metal” surface of the new clamshell hood. New front bumpers and enlarged grille deliver more visual impact, while updated rear LED taillights are now slimmer to match the headlights and feature a bolder “Chicane” light graphic. 

The car’s interior also sports lots of driver-focused techno-bells and whistles, including a 12-inch reconfigurable HD 12.3-inch instrument cluster, two Meridian sound systems, a Touch Pro™ infotainment system with Apply CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, as well as software-over-the-air functionality, which will allow owners to update software without visiting a local dealership. 

Luxurious materials also abound, including Windsor Leather, Suede Cloth and Noble Chrome, with monogram stitching on the seats and door trim.

“State-of-the-art technologies together with luxurious materials and finishes deliver beauty with purpose,” added Thomson. “Jaguar has been making sports cars for more than 70 years, and that rich heritage has inspired the team to create something truly extraordinary.”

The new F-TYPE is more dramatic than ever and embodies true Jaguar design DNA, said the automaker.

The 2021 Jaguar F-TYPE sports car blends state-of-the-art technology with luxurious finishes and materials.

KIA REVEALS AUTONOMOUS BATTERY-ELECTRIC SUV

Futuron Concept Enables Hands-Off, Eyes-Off Driving…

Kia recently unveiled its Futuron Concept at the 2019 China International Import Expo in Shanghai. The car is a near-fully autonomous, battery-electric SUV coupe with Level 4 autonomous-driving features.

“The Kia Futuron Concept is built around a single, strong “360-degree” design notable for its pure, smooth form devoid of ornament,” said Kia in a news release. “The delicate diffusion of the body’s surfaces creates a series of taut, flowing shapes which twist, expand and contract around the body. The result is sleek and streamlined shape, creating an aero-efficient profile.”

The Futuron’s elevated ground clearance, combined with a “low, lean body,” is made possible by mounting the battery—which powers four in-wheel electric motors—low in the EV’s body beneath the cabin floor. Lidar sensors, capable of providing the vehicle with Level 4 autonomous driving features, enables hands-off and eyes-off driving in most conditions, said the company.

The grille incorporates the concept’s headlights, which use a “Star Cloud” design, which takes inspiration from nebulae in the night sky to create a patchwork of matrix LED lighting. The headlights are covered by a “Dragon Skin” surface that “emulates the scaled armor that adorns Chinese dragons, both in mythology and modern-day cultural celebrations.”

Lidar sensors are capable of providing the Kia Futuron Concept with Level 4 autonomous-driving features, enabling hands-off and eyes-off driving in most conditions.

GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS STRUT THEIR STUFF

Concept Cars Take Center Stage At Frankfurt Motor Show…

The Frankfurt Motor Show is a leading international platform for the latest developments in the world of mobility. And the 2019 show afforded numerous examples of automakers’ forward-thinking alternative-fuel technologies and design elements, many of which will likely find their way into new vehicles in the not-too-distant future. Here’s a look at some of the trends.

The Aston Martin Lagonda All-Terrain Concept is a fully-electric SUV with batteries stored in the floor. The elegant interior offers room for four occupants with large bucket seats.

Audi’s AI: TRAIL is the fourth and final vehicle in the company’s AI series of advanced concept vehicles. While the first three represented luxury, performance and city driving, this final version is ready to head off-road.

Ford Europe took the wraps off a sporty-looking plug-in hybrid. The 2020 Kuga ST-Line dazzled in bright red monochrome paint with black polished wheels, painted red calipers and a black roof.

Continuing the electrified concept car trend at the show, Hyundai debuted the 44 EV Concept, named after the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept’s age, which turned 45 this year. Built on a skateboard platform, the 45 EV Concept suggests a sense of minimalism.

Volkswagen unveiled its ID-3 electric hatch. The debut marked an important milestone for VW, which has made a substantial bet on electric cars for the next decade.