Automotive Einstein

Earlier in the year, I was happy to read that Jaguar made some improvements to its infotainment interface for 2012. According to Jaguar’s web site, one of the changes was the addition of dedicated buttons on the console to make it quicker and easier to access a few functions that previously required several screen selections or were totally buried in the system. It shortens the distraction time for some but unfortunately, it’s still a bit wonky. For example, if you choose to use the touch-screen to navigate to adjust the seat heaters, you will also be able to turn on the heated steering wheel from the same screen. If you push the new button on the dash instead, an entirely different screen comes up that only allows you to adjust the heated seats. Very frustrating. The changes definitely are a step in the right direction but they also create problems of their own.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Jaguar XFR – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Jaguar XFR – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

We have previously seen leaked photos, Twitter images, and Christmas-themed teasers, but now it’s time to see the Jaguar XF Sportbrake in all its glory. The British automaker revealed these photos of its newest station wagon, which will make its official debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Photo Gallery: First Look: Jaguar XF Sportbrake – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: Jaguar XF Sportbrake – Automobile Magazine

From the carbon-fiber splitter at its chin to the carbon wing insert perched atop its tail, the 2012 Jaguar XKR-S convertible unmistakably declares itself special and desirable. Then it goes out of its way to back up that statement with levels of performance never known from a Jaguar convertible.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible – Automobile Magazine

“All politics is local.” So Congressman Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, the late Democratic power broker, once famously observed. Although the legendary New England buttonholer’s succinct aphorism originally concerned an election he’d lost in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the 1930s, his words continue to resonate. As they did recently when I set off by Jaguar XJ from a rock-music festival in Latvia to catch up with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, president of Estonia, the smallest, most northern, and most thriving of the three former Soviet republics on the Baltic Sea. Ilves and I once had a political connection, and while it had been some time ago, it was very local. How’s that?

Photo Gallery: Through the Baltic States in a 2011 Jaguar XJ – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Through the Baltic States in a 2011 Jaguar XJ – Automobile Magazine

From previous experience, I know the Jaguar XJ to be dynamically astounding, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to fully enjoy its performance prowess due to the buckets of rain that fell during my time with the car. These conditions, however, did not prevent me from appreciating the big Jag’s lovely interior and abundance of luxury features.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport – Editors’ Notebook – Automobile Magazine

If the only thing that kept you from placing an order for the hot 2012 Jaguar XKR-S was the fact it was offered only in hardtop form, you now have reason to fire a thank-you note off to the folks in Coventry. The automaker announced it will build a handful of 2012 XKR-S Convertibles, the first of which will be shown this week at the 2011 Los Angeles auto show.

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible – Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible – Automobile Magazine

The XF may be the most engaging offering in a segment overflowing with excellent choices. It starts with a throaty V-8, which comes in three basic flavors best summed up as fast (385 hp), faster (470 hp), and “ohmigosh” fast (510 hp). Even in its brawniest R guise, however, the XF remains refined and luxurious thanks to its sublime ride as well as its plush, modern interior. In any form, it steers and handles like a much smaller car, and yet it rides better than many of its competitors. But as enthralling as this car is to drive, the XF falls short in some areas. Finicky controls, a frustrating infotainment system, and less-than-perfect quality marred our yearlong test of an XF back in 2009. Jaguar says it has since fixed the car’s early teething issues, namely, by strengthening the failure-prone rear differential. A 2012 update addresses some of our other complaints. We’ve not yet had a chance to see if the revised touch-screen interface is quicker, but the additional physical buttons mean you no longer have to sift through several on-screen menus to turn on your seat heater. The exterior, which had looked a bit timid and generic, now wears a face similar to that of the larger XJ, and the racy XFR enjoys more visual distinction.