Yep. Been on it only once lugging music equipment so I didn't get to enjoy it in the XK. But most of the highways here are 70-75 mph, which means most everyone is doing 80 anyways.

 

hmm. Interesting indeed.

 

Speaking of differently bodied chassis designs... and I know this is mostly irrelevant, but the Jeep Cherokee uses a Dodge Dart chassis. Quite a different car segment, there.

 

That would be terrific. It was nice driving my new to me XK back to KY from Albuquerque to OK City at the 75 mph limit (which meant 85) on I-40 over the weekend. Most highways here are 65, some 70 on the straighter stretches.

 

I have always believed there is a direct link between- 'get me the outta here before I fall asleep' places and high speed limits or non-policed areas. Same as millions of acres of spectacular uninhabited beachfront still in plentiful- and of no use.

Increased highway speed limit- barely noticeable in high speed sports car.

Driven the 1-80 in Utah, loved their sensibility, its safe here even for a pickup to drive 90, gun it. There are many places where the make you drive 55 just to collect revenue. On I-65 north of Louisville there is some bum'f' town. So they drop the speed limit on a federal highway from 70 to 55 just cause you are passing a town you would normally miss. It should be the other way around. When I went to traffic court, it was the largest structure in town.

Things to Know About NYC?s New 25-Miles-Per-Hour Speed Limit

 

Any particular reason?

I6 and v12 are the only designs inherently balanced.

 

Also consider the opportunity cost.
They have yet to release the most sought after car in their line up- the Defender.
While mostly unknown in America, (which works to its advantage) its legendary world over. Even used as govt duty vehicles in Italy and elsewhere.
The category itself is very popular in USA (think FJ Cruiser) Jeep Cherokee. Germans cant go to this territory.

 

Get your arms around this. It may be what ultimately shapes Lord Ian's aspirations.

A giant chemical company with $40 billion in annual sales, is considering spending hundreds of millions to bring back and compete against the Defender.

"The company is now looking at investing hundreds of millions in making a new vehicle in the UK that will reflect the philosophy of the Defender.

Ineos believe that they can offer a vehicle that will be attractive around the world, for those who love the 4×4 driving experience along with those in agriculture, forestry work and explorers. While they are one of the biggest manufactures in the world this would be the first time that they have come up with a vehicle.

The boss of Ineos said that it is a fantastic project and they are determined to build a 4×4 that is pure and which would fill the gap that the Land Rover Defender left behind. It is thought that the vehicle would have a diesel powertrain and the US and Africa would be prime markets."

 

I like torque at low RPMs, while V12 would deliver it is by design too big and too heavy for a front-engined car. I like RWD front engine setups over mid-engine setups. I6 and V8 are high on my list, but V8 just sounds better.

However, I would not decline if someone offered me a V12 Ferrari, however spending my own money I'd go with a different approach.

My favorite I6 is BMW M30 3.4L engine. My favorite V8 is Mercedes M113 5.0L

 

What about Mercedes G-class?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_G-Class

 

Not possible. If Ian was true to Jaguar and not his ego or sales figures- he would bring the v12 back.

"These engines deliver power pulses more often than engines with six or eight cylinders, and the power pulses have triple overlap (at any time three cylinders are on different stages of the same power stroke) which eliminates gaps between power pulses and allows for greater refinement and smoothness in a luxury car engine, at the expense of much greater cost, complexity and friction losses. In a racing car engine, the rotating parts of a V12 can be made much lighter than a V8 of similar displacement with a crossplane crankshaft because there is no need to use heavy counterweights on the crankshaft and less need for the inertial mass in a flywheel to smooth out the power delivery, and each piston can be smaller, lighter, and with a shorter stroke. Exhaust system tuning is also much more difficult on a crossplane V8 than a V12, so racing cars with V8 engines often use a complicated "bundle of snakes" exhaust system, or a flat-plane crankshaft which causes severe engine vibration and noise."

 

Near zero following in the 4x4 community.
Its more in the high-end SUV/ Range Rover category.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the car Sin is talking about

 

This has a V12, I doubt it is too big or heavy. It is also front engined.



With the V12 you are simply trading width for length. The V8 can be made to a roughly square design, but a V12 of the same displacement and bore/stroke ratio can be made narrower, at the expense of length.

The real detriment is more pieces to replace come overhaul or maintenance time. For a true luxury car owner, that expense doesn't matter.

The V8 LR's are trying to bridge a gap of luxury and performance. A V12 model would be affordable by a much smaller audience; yet it would be the superior vehicle to drive.

 

And many of XK's competitors are already using a front mounted v12.

But I think the leadership at Jaguar that had a say-so in engine prowess have been sidelined.

IMO none of the future jags have any ground-breaking engines. Glad I got mine when I did.

 

Power does not seem to even be on the table in the JLR cars being released this year and on.
When if you think about, power is what put Jag on the map. Particularly the XK 150. The worlds fastest production car at one point.