Car blogs

Tom Evans writes:

Drove down to Sussex today to take part in a Jaguar driving event.  While others in our team know Jaguar well, it has been something of a blind spot for me and I don’t know the Jaguar press gang very well.  Which is a shame, because I love Jags and always will love them.  I scoured London to find a decent Jaguar wedding car for my big day a few years back, and one day I will own one, should the other half of that big day ever allows it.

But in the meantime I have to drive Jags that Jag still owns, and having made a connection with their PR chief Nick O’Donnell recently he kindly asked me to this event.



It was a track day event held for journalists and prospective owners held at the Goodwood racetrack.  The air of anticipation was heavy in their air as it is their big weekend – the Festival of Speed – and the roads are crammed with service vehicles, car-delivery trucks, random fleets of cars (I passed six black Rolls-Royce Phantoms driving along, built just down the road), and much besides.

Sadly I miss the track day stuff, but that still left plenty of cars to drive on the road and I team up with CJ.  First up, a tasty XKR, equipped with both Speed and Black packs:





Can’t say I overly like those black alloys – but I did very much enjoy the stonking action of the 510hp 5-litre supercharged V8, the suppleness of its chassis, and its  overall refined urge.  The car is a proper stormer; I loved the previous 4.2 XKR but this is fabulous.

Next up and into a 380hp coupe – same engine, but no supercharger.  Still great – but noticeably slower than the XKR.

Finally, into the new XJ diesel.  I’d driven the Supersports supercharged one at SMMT day, but not the diesel until now:



The looks are growing on me, but I am still not totally sold on the back of it.  but I do love the interior, and especially the dual view screen which is unique to Jag & sister firm Land Rover.  Basically, the front-seat passenger can watch a DVD or whatever while the drive sees a sat-nav map – on the same screen at the same time.  It is magic frankly, and meant that while I helmed, CJ got to watch one of the Williams sisters being beaten on Centre Court:



The boot is still not big enough though:



But that has been an XJ problem for about 40 years now so this XJ is in fine tradition at least.  And nor is it alone – the new Audi A8 barely has a bigger boot than the A4, largely it seems because of the sheer quantity of electronic gubbins now stashed behind the rear seats.

Overall, a useful and worthwhile day and much fun – and honour - to attend my first ever Jaguar event.  The day went well for Jaguar too it seems – they flogged six cars.

Tom

Tags: On the Road

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To Goodwood for Jaguar driving was originally published by Inside Track. Read the full story by clicking here.