Range Rover Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Land Rover knows where you're going and how you want to get there - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Land Rover makes some of the most capable SUVs on or off the road, and some of the most luxurious too. But the British automaker isn't about to rest on those laurels – not when every other automaker assaults its territory with sport-utes of their own. That's why Land Rover has been working so hard on nifty new technologies from a depth-sounder in the door mirror of the Range Rover Sport anaugmented-reality head-up display that makes the whole front of the car virtually disappear.

JLR's newest tech may not be ground-breaking, but its integration promises to make driving around town that much easier. The system syncs with the driver's smartphone and uses all manner of parameters – including driver habits, weather and location as well as the presence of other passengers – to make the commute go as smoothly as possible. Get into the car and it'll set the seat and mirrors for you. No big deal, because lots of cars do that. But it'll also set up the nav system to take you to work and the sound system to play your favorite music. Okay, getting more interesting.

Get in with your kids and it'll know not only that you've got to drop them off at school first (or remind you to pack their gym bag if they've got soccer practice after school that day) but that they might not enjoy that Chumbawamba album you've been listening to since college and it'll play something it knows you'll all enjoy based on your listening history. Then it'll switch back to Tubthumping once the kids are out, remind you of your morning meeting and alert those you're scheduled to meet with if you get stuck in traffic while finding you a better route to get there, monitoring fuel levels all the while and telling you if you'll need to tank up before you reach your destination. It knows if you like calling your mother on the drive to work and will lower the air suspension to make it easier to hop out once you get there.

Impressive stuff, and you can delve deeper into it in the press release and video below.

Source: Jaguar Land Rover

Autoblog

by Noah Joseph

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Porsche Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Porsche's 959 is still poster-worthy after all these years - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Today, we have the Porsche 918 Spyder. Before that, there was the Carrera GT. While both of those cars are dramatic departures from the traditional, rear-engine Porsche formula, they owe their very existence to another wild child of the iconic German brand – the 959.

Like so many of the great performance cars of yesteryear, the 959 was a homologation special, built just so Porsche could go racing in the clinically insane Group B rally series. Fewer than 400 959s hit the streets, but those that did were some of the most advanced cars of the 1980s. A rear-mounted, twin-turbocharged flat-six sent its power through a still-rare all-wheel-drive system, creating a race-inspired rocket that was, for a short time, the fastest production car on the planet.

Xcar has the story of the 959, from its inception to its conquest of the Paris-Dakar rally, which is interspersed with a drive of the legendary coupe. Scroll down for the full video.

News Source: XCARFilms via YouTube

Autoblog

Brandon Turkus

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Audi Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Audi R8 V10 Plus vs. Renault Clio Cup racecar will make you go hmmm... - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Match up a hot hatch with a supercar of the same vintage, and we'll tell you who will win every time. It's easy, really, as the supercar invariably features a more advanced suspension, stickier tires and most importantly, more power. What if the hot hatch is race prepped, though?

In that particular case, all bets are off. A circuit-tuned suspension, a stripped-down cabin, an ultra-quick sequential transmission and the greatest equalizer of them all, slick tires, are all that's needed to turn the typical hot hatch into a proper dragon slayer.

Perhaps seeking to prove this, Evo has put together an interesting head-to-head between the Audi R8 V10 and a race-prepared Renault Clio Cup. Host Dickie Meaden takes us through each car, highlighting the bits and bobs on both sides which should make this a tight competition. And boy, is this one tight.

Scroll down for the full video from Evo, and let us know what you think of the result in Comments.

source EVO via YouTube

Autoblog

by Brandon Turkus

http://www.boscheuropean.com

BMW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Watch the BMW M4 drift around an aircraft carrier - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

A Nimitz-class American aircraft carrier is big. Really, really big. After all, it has to be, in order to launch and recover a wide array of military aircraft. But when it's not catapulting F/A-18 Super Hornets and E-2 Hawkeyes into the wild blue yonder, what exactly can you use its 1,040-foot long flight deck for? Well, BMW seems to have an idea.

Now, obviously BMW hasn't paid Uncle Sam to convert the deck of the USS John C. Stennis into a racetrack (but what an idea!). That doesn't make this video of an Austin Yellow M4 slipping and sliding its way around the carrier deck any less entertaining. The video itself comes, weirdly considering the US aircraft carrier, from BMW of Canada, and we aren't really sure what the point of it is. There's no voiceover, or title or closing screens to lend the scene any context, and it seems unlikely that this sort of seemingly high-dollar video would be done sheerly for giggles. Whatever the reason for its existence, it's worth a watch.

Scroll down and have a look.

source: Autoblog

by Brandon Turkus

News Source: BMW Canada via YouTube

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Jaguar Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Take a trip down Jaguar's memory lane with Xcar - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

For decades, Jaguar has been a company of two minds. On one hand, there are its luxurious, British saloon cars. They might be quick, even sporty, but when it comes down to it, they usually put a focus on comfort and accommodations above all. On the other hand, Jag has its sports cars to really get its buyers' blood pumping. Think about it: the XJ might look pretty sweet, but you know deep down that you would rather take the F-Type for a spirited drive, reveling in its snorty exhaust note. In its latest video,Xcar Films takes us on a very enjoyable history lesson covering some of the Brit brand's most exciting models ever.

Xcar hits all of the highlights, starting with the often-overlooked C-Type from early '50s with its somewhat bulbous shape. Things then progress to the drop-dead gorgeous D-Type. The one in this video is actually the first ever made and therefore worth a fortune. Because of that, the host isn't really able to get too aggressive, but it's fantastic to get an idea of what it's like to experience being behind the wheel of this icon. Finally, it ends with a Series 1 E-Type. This was when the classic model was still something of a sports car; instead of the grand tourer that the E-Type became in its later days.

All three of these cars are legends in their own right, and maybe one day the F-Type could be too. Scroll down for a history lesson on some of Jaguar's best sports cars.

News Source: Xcar Films via YouTube

Source: Autoblog

by Chris Bruce

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Mercedes Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Mercedes takes VW Westfalia Camper idea upscale with new Marco Polo - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz revealed the new V-Class. Slotting in below the popular Sprinter, the new V-Class replaced both the Viano and Vito upon its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. But Mercedes isn't quite done with it just yet. At the upcoming Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany, Mercedes will reveal the Marco Polo - a versatile, stylish and decidedly contemporary take on the classic camper van.

Named after the famous Italian explorer, the Marco Polo was converted by Westfalia, an outfit which you might more closely associate with classic VW camper vans but which Daimler absorbed over a decade ago. Offering, according to the press release below, "a maximum of opportunities to be independent, free and spontaneous," the Marco Polo sleeps four thanks to the rear bench that electrically folds flat into a bed and the second berth under the pop-top. The flexible interior is decked out like you'd expect a modern Mercedes to be, with ambient LED lighting as well as wood, metal and piano black trim.

It's got an onboard kitchenette with two gas burners, a sink and fridge with a 10 gallons of fresh water and an even bigger waste tank. All that gear is shlepped around by a choice of four-cylinder turbodiesel engines ranging in output from 136 to 190 horsepower. The relatively compact form boasts a turning circle similar to a full-size sedan and a height designed to fit into most garages and car washes. All of which just might make us reconsider the appeal of traveling by camper van.

source: Autoblog

by Noah Joseph

News Source: Mercedes-Benz

http://www.boscheuropean.com

VW Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - 2014 Volkswagen Amarok Canyon - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

There are those European automakers that compete in the North American market and those which don't. Volkswagen, for its part, may stand firmly in the former category, but there are still entire model lines that remain out of reach for American buyers: diminutive hatchbacks like the Up! and the Polo, of course, but also entire brands like Seat and Skoda which (unlike Audi, Porsche,Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini) aren't offered Stateside altogether. But there's another brand within the Volkswagen Group whose products don't, in Wolfsburg's estimation, warrant shipping to the United States – one that would be all too easy to forget. And that's Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Though its products wear the familiar VW emblem, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stands essentially as another brand within Europe's largest and most successful auto group. It mostly produces vans like the Caddy, Transporter, Crafter and Caravelle, but is also responsible for the only pickup truck built in Germany: the Volkswagen Amarok. Like its van stablemates, the Amarok isn't offered in North America, so we crossed the pond to drive it for ourselves (and, of course, for you) to see what we were missing out on.

Driving Notes

Previewed by the Robust concept back in 2008, the Amarok has been on the market (certain markets, anyway) since 2010. Assembled both in Argentina and in Hannover, Germany, the Amarok is similar in form to other short-bed, four-door pickups like the Mitsubishi Triton (similarly not available in America) and the Honda Ridgeline.

The version we drove on both paved and off-road sections of the Milbrook Proving Ground in the UK was the Amarok Canyon, a special edition that's based on the mid-spec Trendline (not on the base Startline or top-spec Highline) but upgrades with more bells and whistles, from 19-inch alloys and running boards (which are mounted too close to the body to actually use as a step) to tinted glass and two-tone upholstery. As a result of all the extra equipment, the relatively reasonable 20,000-pound UK starting price (before tax) balloons to a comparatively enormous as-tested price of 37,841 pounds (including VAT). That makes this fully-loaded pickup about the same price in the UK as an entry-level Touareg, which starts at nearly $45k in the US. Significantly more, for comparison's sake, than the Honda Ridgeline that starts here at just under $30k and tops out at $37,505.

Powering the Amarok Canyon – an interesting trim name considering the GMC pickup of similar size and nameplate – is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI packing 178 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. (A scrawnier 138hp version available on base models.) It's mated to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, and drives through VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system. We drove both versions, and found ourselves wondering why more pickups aren't available with stick-shifts back in America, because the combination of rough-and-tumble truck with manual transmission, quite frankly, proved intoxicating. (Last we checked, for reference, you could still get three pedals on the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ram HD, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma, but that's about it.)

With the six-speed manual, the Amarok Canyon will run from 0-62 miles per hour in 11.0 seconds and top out at 110 mph. (Add another 0.3 seconds and cut two mph for the automatic.) In other words, the Amarok is not one of Volkswagen's more performance-oriented models, but then it's not designed to be.

Driving the Amarok on a variety of surfaces, we were, however, impressed with the combination of truck attributes and German engineering – a rare combination considering that every pickup available Stateside is a product of either an American automaker or a Japanese one. Their trucks may be able to haul more than VW's, but if you've ever stepped into a pickup and felt a bit of a disconnect between the ruggedness of its construction and that of its fit-and-finish, the Amarok would likely surprise you with its German build quality. The overall feeling is of a truck – inside, out and underneath, right down to the knobs and interior trim – that has been hewn from sturdy materials.

What you shouldn't expect, however, is for the Amarok to drive like a Touareg with a pickup bed at the back. It's not a crossover – it's a truck, and it drives that way (even if it exhibits more car-like refinement than most). But after a day of piloting nimble hot hatches and cossetting diesel luxury sedans (more on those to follow if you watch this space), the Amarok proved a breath of fresh, earnest air and left us with a big smile across our faces. This writer never considered himself much of a truck guy, and in truth has not driven many pickups; it took the Amarok's unique combination of go-anywhere capability coupled with German engineering to really see the attraction (especially where necessity doesn't dictate the form).

Which only raises the question: should Volkswagen bring the Amarok to North America? We don't doubt that it would find a fair few customers in American dealerships (and maybe a few more in Canada, where European tastes often prevail), but the Amarok was never designed with the US market in mind. And four years since its introduction overseas, the opportunity may have passed VW as the Amarok soldiers along. But sooner or later, Volkswagen will have to replace the Amarok with a new model. When it does, we hope it at least takes American tastes and potential demand into account. Because as it stands, we're missing out.

Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Noah Joseph / AOL

Autoblog

by Noah Joseph

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Range Rover Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Front Air Strut Replacement - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Here we are doing a front air strut on a 2004 Range Rover. These front air struts lasted for 130,000 miles but the bladder has now developed a leak. It is recommended to replace both front air struts on failure. The symtons were the front suspension dropped and you could hear air leaking from the air bladder on the truck. If this does happen when you are driving on the road you should drive the Range Rover below 45 miles an hour to not damage the front suspension.  Leaving this unfixed can also damage the cars air compressor. For preventive maintenance please come in and let us do a quick inspection of your air bladders.

Range Rover EAS ("electronic air suspension") has typically been an expensive system to maintain. Many improved parts are now available  so the costs of operating the system have come down. The average life expectancy of a strut on a Range Rover is approximately 80 – 120k
 

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Audi Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Audi to launch 600-hp RS6 Avant Plus? - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

Much to the dismay of many – but apparently not enough – there's a whole category of power wagons available overseas that we just can't get our hands on. While the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate andCadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon are both available Stateside, the recently revised Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake, the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake we recently drove at the Nürburgring and the Audi RS6 Avantremain out of reach for American buyers. They all stand on more-or-less equal footing, with forced-induction V8s producing around 550 horsepower. But Audi is apparently taking things over and above with a new RS6 Plus.

Revealed ahead of schedule on a British dealer's website (which leaked details accompanied by a stock photo of the existing model), the RS6 Avant Plus will apparently keep the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, but upgrade from 560 hp to a nice, round 600 to put it ahead of the competition and in league with supercars. Considering that the existing RS6 Avant is already capable of cracking the four-second barrier to 60 and tops out at over 190 miles per hour, we're sure the Plus version will positively annihilate the Autobahn, all while bringing your whole family along for the ride.

Unfortunately it doesn't look any more likely that Quattro GmbH's latest Plus model will make the transatlantic journey to American showrooms, but we can hope that maybe Audi will perform similar modifications on the RS7 Sportback we do get here.

News Source: GTSpirit.com, autoevolution

Autoblog

by Noah Joseph

http://www.boscheuropean.com

Porsche Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - Porsche 918 Spyder roars electric through London - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

The Porsche 918 Spyder can be an object of lust for anyone who appreciates the finer things in the automotive world, but for us greenies with penchant for speed, the car is an icon. This gorgeous, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid offers 887 horsepower and 940 pound-feet of torque, can do 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds and is capable of 214 miles per hour. It lapped the Nürburgring in a record 6:57. Still, it is capable of near-silent, relaxed cruising through one of Europe's busiest cities.

In a new video from Porsche, chief driving instructor Gordon Robertson takes the 918 to London and does just that. While driving in E-Power mode, he describes some of the things that make the car special, as well as how the technology has developed through the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the 919 LMP1 car to eventually be passed onto the Panamera S E-Hybrid. If you're interested, you can learn more about the car in our own drive review, here.

It's great to see, for the first time, the 918 Spyder driving alongside London's black cabs and double-decker buses. The rubbernecking from pedestrians is noticeable and completely understandable. I'm sure we'd all love to see this car come silently sneaking down our own city streets, but until Porsche makes that happen, you'll just have to enjoy the video below.

source: Autoblog - YouTube

By John Beltz Snyder



























































































http://www.boscheuropean.com

Jaguar Service, Repair and Consignment Sales Redwood City - 2014 Jaguar XJL AWD 3.0 - Bosch European Redwood City - (650) 368-3000

A bit of British nobility floods the senses when piloting the 2014Jaguar XJ. It's an emotional rush, a perception based on physical surroundings that influence the mind in much the same manner that a stein of pilsner tastes best when consumed in a German beer garden and no sand is softer than that found on a warm Caribbean beach. Jaguar has been assembling cars for nearly 100 years, and few automakers are as equally adept at capturing aristocracy and timelessness within the rich cabins of their luxury offerings.

Jaguar would have no concern if it were the only game in town, but that's far from the truth. The premium full-size luxury segment, which includes vehicles hovering just under or at the six-figure mark, is a contentious grouping that includes the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Porsche Panamera. Each of those brings its own game to the battle, and none are easy to dismiss.

To better understand the British perspective and evaluate its latest offering on a land without royalty, I recently spent a week with a long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive Jaguar XJ in Southern California.

The secret is aluminum. The result is a very rigid platform that is strong, corrosion-resistant and extremely lightweight.

At first glance, this sedan appears to be everything but the enthusiast's choice. It is the automaker's largest platform, fitted with one of its least powerful engines mated to an all-wheel drive powertrain. Mass is always the enemy, and a big car paired with a small engine and a complex driveline is often sluggish on the road. Yet the Jaguar XJL AWD 3.0 dodges the bullet with a curb weight of just 4,151 pounds – tipping the scales 313 pounds lighter than the Audi A8L, 374 pounds lighter than the BMW 740Li xDrive and a massive 622 pounds lighter than the Mercedes S550 4Matic, for quick comparison.

The secret is aluminum, the lightweight alloy that Jaguar embraced when it launched its all-new flagship in 2011. Unlike its predecessors, the fourth-generation model boasted an aluminum chassis built in much the same manner of a jet aircraft. Instead of using an alloy frame covered in lightweight panels like the Audi A8, Jaguar chose to assemble cast and extruded aluminum structural members, and then cover them with bonded and riveted aluminum sheet. The result is a very rigid platform that is strong, corrosion-resistant and extremely lightweight.

Like most premium automakers, Jaguar offers its XJ with a choice of wheelbase, engine and powertrain. While its base price starts at $85,595 (including $895 destination), this Stratus Grey over Jet tester arrived under 3.0-liter V6 power wearing a few options that rocketed its price skyward. The most significant is the Premium Rear Seat package ($7,750), which pampers those in the second row with reclining and massaging rear seats, video entertainment and leather-wrapped tables. The Meridian audio upgrade ($4,180) packs 1,300 watts through 26 speakers and the Illumination package ($1,700) brightens up the doors, trunk sills and air vents. Lastly, an Electric Rear Window Sunblind ($670) blocks prying eyes and the sun's rays. Add it up, and it will cost you $100,745 to put an identical car in your driveway.

Whether or not the Jaguar's sleek exterior styling pleases, the lofty sticker price is quickly justified after dropping into the cabin.

Whether or not the Jaguar's sleek exterior styling pleases (its distinctive blackened C-pillar penned by Ian Callum is best masked by darker palettes), the lofty sticker price is quickly justified after dropping into the cabin. Unlike the German, Japanese and Korean offerings, which envelop their followers with technology and advanced styling, the Brit relies on traditional luxury to pamper passengers. Occupants sit within a completely leather-lined cockpit with a bold sweeping dash highlighted with glossy finished wood. The four polished chrome climate-control vents are featured prominently, and nearly all of the switchgear is trimmed in the bright traditional metal. Natural hides covering nearly everything are rich to the eyes, the nose and the fingertips – it's sensory overload.

The driving position is good, with most of the controls in their proper ergonomic position. The only oddity, which has now become familiar across its family, is the JaguarDrive Select transmission dial that rises eerily out of the console when the vehicle is powered up (park in the hot sun, and its metal dial becomes almost too hot to touch). The primary instrument panel is a 12.3-inch high-definition "Virtual Instruments" gauge cluster, which despite its 614,400-pixel resolution, looked much more impressive four years ago than it does today against modern high-res screens. Regardless, it is easy to read without being too gimmicky.

The standard XJ is hardly cramped, but the long-wheelbase model offers a generous 44.1 inches of rear seat legroom – that's 5.1 inches more than its sibling – thanks to its nearly 5-inch wheelbase stretch. Passengers in the other three remaining positions (drop the Premium Rear Seat package to gain room for a fifth passenger) will find the accommodations very inviting, with those in the second row scoring the real First Class upgrade with mirrored creature comforts including full HVAC controls, massaging seats, flat-screen entertainment, footrests, vanity mirrors, privacy shades and a moonroof. New for 2015 is the leather-wrapped tray table, which replaces last year's polished wood version. Even if you're not riding with a chauffeur, it can reveal itself as a convenient addition - before a morning meeting, I climbed into the back seat and drew the privacy blinds before typing on my laptop for an hour.

LWB models have been enhanced with improved rear seat massage, power-operated sun blinds, rear-seat entertainment, chauffeur controls and new audio options.

Jaguar has treated its XJ to a mild update for 2014, which included new standard soft-close doors, upgraded upholstery, new trim colors and revised wheel choices. Long-wheelbase models have been enhanced the most, with improved rear seat massage, power-operated sun blinds, rear-seat entertainment, chauffeur controls and new audio options. But the big headlines have been reserved for the powertrain, as the entry-level naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 – a Jaguar staple since the late 1990s – had been replaced by a supercharged V6.

Under the hood of the XJ, with nearly all of its mass aft of the front axle, is an all-aluminum supercharged 3.0-liter V6 rated at 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent through a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, sourced from ZF. All-wheel drive models like this one have a multi-plate clutch at the back of the gearbox that controls the amount of power sent to the front differential. Under most conditions, the majority of the torque goes to the rear wheels – emulating a rear-wheel-drive chassis – for traditional driving dynamics. However, up to 50 percent of that torque may be sent to the front axle if slip is detected. The AWD system is completely automatic, but a Winter Mode defaults to a 30:70 torque split to improve traction on slippery surfaces.

A quick stab of the start/stop button brings the Jaguar to life, and it settles to a nearly imperceptible idle. The JaguarDrive Select to rises into place, and gear selection is just a clockwise spin of the dial away. The XJ is no sport sedan, but its subtle exhaust note is wonderful and very pleasing while underway. The soundtrack permeates the cabin as a deep and gentle purr from the trunk – the noise is genuine (from tuned mufflers) and very tastefully executed. Under full throttle it is more forceful, with a mechanical accompaniment from under the hood joining in.

Jaguar quotes a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds, which is the slowest in the model range, but the sedan never feels lethargic.

Being the heaviest and least powerful in the XJ lineup does have consequences in terms of overall acceleration – Jaguar quotes a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds, which is the slowest in the model range – but the sedan never feels lethargic or burdened underway. The standard start/stop system is a bit clumsy (a button defeats it), but off-the-line acceleration is peppy and merging with traffic is never an issue. It helps that wheel spin is kept in check by the intelligent AWD system, which preloads the front tires when heavy throttle is applied.

Allowing the operator to configure the vehicle to its mission, Jaguar offers Normal, Dynamic and Winter driving modes. Switching between the three alters transmission shift points, engine response, Adaptive Dynamics active suspension and stability control intervention. Normal mode is good under nearly all driving conditions, with Dynamic only needed when the driver wants to aggressively tackle some big sweepers. But even in the sportiest of the modes, when the digital instrument cluster changes its illumination to a red tone and its gym shoes are put to the test (a nice set of Pirelli P Zero Nero tires, 245/45R19 front and 275/40R19 rear), the XJ never feels particularly at ease in the tight canyons – that isn't its mission.

The XJL is a very long sedan with an impressive wheelbase. While this translates to a comfortable ride, its dynamic characteristics never cease to remind the driver of each and every one of its 206.8 inches of length. Outward visibility is challenging, especially to the rear, and the turning radius is a large 41.7 feet (that equates to a three-point turn in many cases). Yet pilot it down the highway and it glides effortlessly, seemingly forever. Jaguar fits the XJL with a sizeable 21.7-gallon fuel tank, and that translates to a sphincter-squeezing range of about 500 miles based on the EPA-calculated highway economy of 24 miles per gallon.

The Brit's build quality is impressive, and the supercharged V6 is the perfect mate to both its transmission and the lightweight chassis.

If asked to choose the Jaguar's best attributes, I'd point to its handsome styling and elegant interior appointments which warmly invite passengers to settle in, get comfortable and enjoy the travel (most of the competitors offer cooler and more sterile accommodations). The Brit's build quality is also impressive, and the supercharged V6 is the perfect mate to both its transmission and the lightweight alloy chassis.

If asked to choose the Jaguar's worst attributes, the climate control system would be at the top of my list. Southern California was experiencing a heatwave during my test, and the vehicle couldn't muster a properly frigid blow on its Auto setting (I had to manually bump up the fan speed constantly). I also found the trunk to be on the small side (lacking fold-down rear seats or a pass-through to improve capacity) and the navigation system seemed to be more interesting in a circuitous tour than a beeline to my programmed destination (in frustration, I relied on my smart phone for directions).

The Jaguar does not best its competitors in any single category, but I am still a big fan – the XJL AWD model with its supercharged V6 completely won me over. The others in this high-end segment appeal to customers with innovation, technology or value, while the Jaguar relies on its styling and alluring British character to seal the deal. The driver is offered competent and capable driving dynamics, while passengers are captivated and charmed with the familiar trappings of traditional luxury. The XJ is for those who understand and embrace its time-honored elegance. As I told many family and friends during my week with the big Brit, this is not a vehicle for everyone – it is transportation for nobility.

Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Michael Harley / AOL

Autoblog

by Michael Harley

http://www.boscheuropean.com