Jaguar is banking heavily on its new XF sedan to put some meat back on its starving cat.

From the initial look this week in LA it seems the brand might be ready for the resurgence they have been hoping for.The XF has two different 4.2 liter V-8 power plants. One a naturally aspirated variant turns out 300 horsepower and 310lb-ft of torque, while the other a supercharged powerhouse that turns out 420 horse and 408lb –ft of torque.Both come with six speed automatic with prices ranging from $49,975 - $55,975. The XF hits showrooms in March.

Named for the legendary Scottish driver, the Jim Clark Memorial Award is awarded annually to a Scottish citizen who has made a difference to motor racing. The 2007 recipient is TV host Lee McKenzie. 28 year old Lee has been chasing her journalistic dreams since the ripe old age of 15 and has covered F1, DTM, Porsche Supercup and currently is traveling with A1GP. She even got her WRC co-driver’s license and has competed in several WRC rounds, proving that she can put her knowledge of the sport to good use inside the car as well as on screen.

Ford Media release after the break
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Jaguar’s of the last few years have gone a long way to reclaiming some of the marque’s previous glory. At the forefront of this renaissance is the Jaguar XKR, which has built a mystique of it’s own that’s worthy of it’s heritage. Jaguar is determined that the XKR should stay at the pinnacle of automotive lustability, and with that in mind, they are offering the 2008 XKR Portfolio.

An all aluminum, supercharged, 420 hp V8 feeding a six speed automatic with paddle shift, twists the 20 inch Cremona 5 spoke wheels. At 4.9 seconds zero to sixty, the cat is slowed by the biggest brakes ever fitted to a production Jaguar. Odd then that the top speed is electronically controlled to a lowly 155 mph. Surely society can accept a British sports car with a wicked top speed. Perhaps Jaguar are hiding their potential for the 2008 Le Mans event!

Jaguar press release & more photos after the break:
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The artiste was working hard during press day at the Canadian International Auto Show. We’ve got lots of images to follow, as we get the galleries set up. For now, enjoy the classic Jaguar front view.

Like it or not, street racing is part of our culture. Long romanticized by song writers and authors, there is no denying that songs like “Dead Man’s Curve” are anything but a glorification of the danger surrounding street racing.

I was cruisin’ in my Stingray late one night
When an XKE pulled up on the right
And rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag
And challenged me then and there to a drag
I said, “you’re on, buddy, my mill’s runnin’ fine
Let’s come off the line, now, at Sunset and Vine
But I’ll go you one better if you’ve got the nerve
Let’s race all the way
To Dead Man’s Curve”

But isn’t that part of what it’s all about? The danger of getting caught. The risks. The humbling experience of losing. Somewhere along the way though, the reality of those same dangers sets in. Killing an innocent bystander is not an acceptable byproduct of some fun today, nor do I suspect it was a very welcome outcome in the Fifties.

Over at Left Lane, there was a bit of talk about Toronto’s own Jim Kenzie’s recent article about some possible upcoming legistlation to ban performance mods in the wake of the tragic death of a married couple. Joe at MyFordDreams2 and Jalopnik have posted about similar laws coming in the Bay area in sunny Cali. What nobody noticed though was the news from the day after Kenzie’s article was published.
A 31 year old Torontonian died when he wrapped his late model Porsche 911 around some immovable object while racing his cousin. It’s not just teens who do stupid things. You would think that this guy would have discovered the Driver Advancement days held by the local PCA region.

As true enthusiasts, it is all of our jobs to show the green, testosterone filled racer wannabes that there are safe places to drive their rods. Most car guys really have no training & the first time they have any advanced training they are blown away by how little they really do know about car control. A couple of weekends of autocrossing will change a driver’s skill level and awareness forever. All for about the cost of a decent lunch.

By all means folks, let’s keep enjoying the fun, impromptu stoplight battles. Just a little common sense and a little less cajones and maybe we can stop killing people in the name of fun.