Cars Model 2013 2014 2015

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type Lana Del Rey's "Burning Desire" video, the first musical collaboration between Jaguar and its hired songstress, is half music video, half long-form lifestyle commercial for the 2014 F-Type. If you like Del Rey channeling glamorous fifties fame as she lays down vocals of sensuous, languid dolor over images of black-and-white yesteryears, you'll like this song off of her new EP, Paradise.

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type

We think the appearance of a red and brand-new Jaguar, though, is incongruous – either Del Rey or Jaguar is the anachronism, take your pic. That's not to say it's not beautiful, however, so enjoy the combination in the video below.

Which is hotter, Lana Del Rey or the Jaguar F-Type

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake Editor's Note: Our reporter was anxious to get some time behind the wheel of the XF Sportbrake, even though Jaguar only had a very small window available for us to drive it. As a result, we weren't able to capture our usual original images to go with the Quick Spin story. Please accept our regrets, and Jag's lovely stock photography, instead.

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake gagues

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake interior

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake headlight

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake taillight

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake logo

The last wagon attempt from Jaguar was the X-Type, built between 2003 and that model line's unceremonious end in 2009. That X-Type and its legacy represent a real dog of a chapter for Jaguar, and for the Halewood factory where the barker was built. It was the final joke told prior to the brand's proper rebirth phase – a phase we're enjoying the heck out of today.

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Current magnanimous Jaguar owner Tata can be thanked for this new wagon, the XF Sportbrake. Like all newness coming from Jag these days, this new wagon also feels lightyears more serious an offering, ready to compete squarely with established premium wagon makers across Europe. A Jaguar wagon in America is a far-off priority for the company, frankly. Still we deserve to know what we're missing for the time being from this (sometimes overly) cherished British firm.

I was given a right-hand-drive 3.0-liter turbodiesel XF Sportbrake. Jaguar currently offers only diesel powerplants in the wagon due to the European market buying nearly 100 percent of its wagon bodies with the far more efficient powerplants. And on the 40 miles from Welshpool over to Bala at the edge of Wales' Snowdonia National Park, there's some driving to be done.

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship In the note, de Nysschen talks about the challenge of product expansions with alphanumeric names that allow for flexibility without encroaching on the trademarked names of other automakers, although we're sure de Nysschen's former colleagues at Audi aren't looking forward to a Q30 or Q50. He also says that as Infiniti grows to become a global brand, the new naming structure – which closely mimics Volvo – is also designed to reduce confusion (just don't tell that to current owners). One thing that de Nysschen assured wouldn't happen is a confusing "X" added to the end of all-wheel-drive model names that would result in names like the Q60X or, even worse, the QX50X.

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti caused quite a stir this week when it announced that it would be changing its vehicle names so that all of its cars start with Q and all of its crossovers and SUVs start with QX. Many displeased fans and owners took to social media to voice their opinions, and Johan de Nysschen, the new Infiniti boss, responded today with a Facebook post of his own.Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

While we are not looking forward to relearning Infiniti's product lineup, de Nysschen has given us something to look forward to courtesy of a new performance sedan. From the brief explanation of this car, which was used as a key example in explaining the validity of the new names, we learned that the new model will be a performance version of what is now the M sedan, and it will be powered by a "charged induction" 3.0-liter V6 producing more than 550 horsepower. The M's name will become the Q70, but as of right now, it isn't clear if this will be an IPL model or something else.

Scroll down to read de Nysschen's response.

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK Aside from certain naming-related news, Infiniti has actually had some decent product news to announce this week. The company's president, Johan de Nysschen, alluded to a new 550-horsepower performance sedan, and now the automaker has confirmed that a new "premium compact" will go into production in 2015. Based on the fact that this new model will be built alongside the Nissan Leaf at the automaker's Sunderland, UK assembly plant, we could only hope that it's a production version of the LE Concept (shown above).

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK headlight

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK taillight

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK logo

Sunderland already produces Nissan products like the Qashqai, Juke and Note, and as a part of an investment of 250 million British pounds (around $406 million USD) for the new model, the plant would add an extra 280 jobs with the capacity to build 60,000 of the new Infinitis annually. Adding the premium compact at Sunderland means that Infiniti will have to change its plans for another new model, a bigger "C-segment hatchback," which could very well be a production version of the Etherea Concept.

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut Preparing for the introduction of its new naming system and redesigned entry-level sedan, Infiniti has released a brief teaser video for the 2014 Q50. As a refresher, the Q50 is the replacement for the G37 sedan, and while we've seen spy shots of this car before, this video is our first detailed look at the production car.

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut headlight

All we get to see in the video is a shot of the headlight, but we get to see key elements like the stylish daytime running lights, crescent-shaped parking lights and adaptive low beams. The overall shape of the headlight is very close to what we saw earlier this year on the LE Concept. We have to wait until the Detroit Auto Show kicks off in a couple weeks to see the Q50's full design (although we're sure there will be some leaks before that point), but until then, check out the short video posted after the jump.

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible Infiniti rolled out the IPL version of its G37 Convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show more than a year ago. The Infiniti Performance Line treatment logically mirrors that of the IPL G Coupe, meaning it receives both cosmetic and mechanical tweaks designed to raise the pulse of driving enthusiasts.

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible badge

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible front seat

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible grill

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible gagues

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible headligh

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible logo

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible interior

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible taillight

Aside from the overstated aerodynamic styling components and huge exhaust tips, the cabin features special leather upholstery, aluminum trim and IPL badging to distinguish it from lesser siblings. Under the hood, the 3.7-liter V6 (VQ37VHR) has been recalibrated to deliver 343 horsepower – 18 more than the standard coupe – and 273 pound-feet of torque. The suspension has been upgraded with firmer spring and stabilizer bar rates, multi-piston sport brakes are fitted and 19-inch graphite-finish wheels wrapped with summer rubber are bolted on. There are only two exterior color choices (Moonlight White and Malbec Black) and two upholstery choices (Stone and IPL-exclusive Monaco Red). Everything sounds marvelous until someone reveals its as-tested $62,415 window sticker.