The Ferrari 166S and 166MM Barchettas are amazing to hear with their 2.0 litre V12s! They were a bit of a handful to drive though with drum brakes and all.

I personally prefer the sound of a V12 over a V8, but I fear both are on their way to extinction in favour of I4 and V6 supercharged or turbocharged engines.

I sincerely doubt JLR will return to a V12 in any of the upcoming models. Hopefully I'm wrong!

 

The XE, XF, XJ and F-Pace have 4 seats and all of them are or will soon be available with the 575HP 5.0L SC engine together with other high performance parts. To me, they're all 4-door, 4-seat sports cars, just in different sizes.

My XJ has "only" 470HP and it's as much fun to drive as my XKR.

 

I have posted this before, but for anyone who adores the sound of a V12, listen to this with your speakers turned up:

 

I've been meaning to ask you this for a bit. How is the eight speed in the 2013 compare to the six speed in your XKR? Do you have a preference?

 

[QUOTE=NBCat;1780900]I have posted this before, but for anyone who adores the sound of a V12, listen to this with your speakers turned up:

I gotta say there is nothing in my opinion as the sound of a howling Ferrari. Whether it's a V12 or a V8 it has it's own unique sound that can't be missed. During my Ferrari days I've attended many of the Ferrari challenge cup races and the sounds were great. Then again doing my F-car tune up was pretty enjoyable . That 7500 red line came up pretty fast in the 1st 3 gears . Thanks for the clip.

 

[QUOTE=jagtoes;1780947]I worked for Scuderia Ferrari for many years and had the great privilege of working with several ingeniere who were both entertaining and knowledgeable. I was part of the sports car team in the 1970s and worked on the 512M cars for Le 24 Heures du Mans.

This clip is from Corse Clienti at Monza.

 

NBCat,
I don't like the sound of that V-12, and don't find it as engaging as the sound of a Ford V-8 or even a Chevy big block. That deep rumble is to me, so much richer sounding than the high pitched squeal of the F-1 Ferrari.

Listen to the following clip of a Pantera with 427 v-8 powered noise, much more pleasing to my ear.
or this clip of a Pantera with a 351C v-8 at relatively low rpms.

 

Yes, I prefer the 8-speed. Both transmissions feel virtually identical with smooth shifts when in fully automatic and with the paddles. However, the 8-speed together with Intelligent Stop-Start results in much better fuel economy, notwithstanding a larger displacement and more power (5.0L/470HP vs. 4.2L/420HP). At first, I hated the Stop-Start, but after I learned how to modulate it with brake pedal pressure I really learned to like it. I routinely get 16 mpg in city driving in the XJ with the Stop-Start and only 11-12 mpg in the XKR - but city traffic in my area is a nightmare. With a light foot on the highway, I've gotten as much as 25 mpg in the XJ, but 22-23 is typical. Although I didn't buy either car with fuel economy in mind, the fuel economy in the XJ is a nice surprise. The additional gears and more HP and torque enable the XJ to accelerate faster than the XKR while using less gas.

 

Yes, the transmission was really noticeably better in the newer jags. I had the 6 speed in 3 jags and when I test drove the f type a few years before I got one, the only areas that I really thought it bettered the XKR was steering and transmission. The shifts are lightning fast and the faster downshift is really noticeable.

The actual setup is different as well - in sport it wont change back into auto mode by itself whereas in dynamic it will, but in sport with dynamic it wont.

I had thought 8 gears would be two too many for fun driving using the paddles, but the quickness of the shifts means that you can drop from cruising in 6th down to cornering in second or third very quickly, and for spirited driving you are keeping in mainly between 2nd to 4th anyway so you dont lose track of where you are.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with the premise.

I am however citing the other inescapable reality that there is a massive market for coupes- namely coupes that are practical. Every top car manufacturer has them, often one for every model. BMW for instance, has one in the 2 series, 3series, 4series, Xseries, 6series, 8series.
Seems to be a popular (albeit perverse) option.
Jaguar has none that have any space behind the driver' seat.

I am with you, I dont see the reason to make a boat like the 6 series or even the 4 series, just a 2-door. When they seat 4.

 

The graphical representation tells the story why a 2 door everyday car from Jaguar is needed, even if in an suv. These are the current BMW coupes on offer.

 

of the two clips, 3l V12 and V8
The V12 is a smooth continuous sound other than at braking
The V8 is uneven pulsations
Exactly like the designs of the engines.
Ignore the slightly high pitch tome coming from the Ferrari, its from the mic picking up high frequency reflections, and there is no cabin gain of the bass, as its not in the car.

Anyone really interested in this subject, must get a CD from Nick Mason (pink floyd) a massive petrolhead and he wrote a book with free cd called "Into the Red"
Great comparison in sounds between the engines, both in-car and out sounds.
The near pulseless BRM 1.5l V16 is a religious experience.

 

This might be a sacrilege, but I don't particularly enjoy Ferrari whine. To me its V12 sounds like a castrato, while rumbling V8 sounds like a viking roar.

 

Jaguar's ultimate 4-door sports car:
www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-jaguar-xe-sv-project-8-guns-nurburgring-four-door-lap-record

 

Good to know, I was liking the 8 speed in the Corvette. I've been browsing all 5.0 supercharged models; but I think I'll narrow down the four doors to 2013+ with that info in mind.

 

At the risk of starting a lot of negative discussion, let's just say we each have our own preferences when it comes to what we like automotive-wise. I personally find nothing appealing about limited RPM, big pushrod engine sounds, but that is just my feeling.

I guess that's why there are so many choices when it comes to what cars and sounds we each like.

 

I find the expression 'pushrod' a vulgar euphemism. But different than dipstick.
To me it implies the efficiency of a man pushing a broom, or toilet plunger, or a pencil-pusher. When you think about it, its an unholy matrimony. Push by itself has a negative connotation; 'dont push me' 'I was pushed into it'. It suggest an unwilling shove from the rear. To which we add a rod or a prodding implement.

I think it can be used as a very unique swear word in choice instances. But you wouldn't want to use it on a crowded bus.

 

I'll be in the market for a sedan within the next year or two. A 2013+ XJ with the 5.0 is on my short list. It's too bad though..... The XE looks good on paper and is priced nicely but the only thing on it visually appealing to me is the Growler badge on the grill...

 

As archaic as a push rod engine is I am still impressed with the NASCAR push rod engines that get 8-9000 rpm and 600-800 hp on an NA engine.

 

Pushrod and overhead cam are only a few years apart in their invention; if one is archaic then so is the other. The Push Rod design is very space efficient, it is a large part of why a 7.0L Corvette is still a small car.

There are regulations these days on panel crush space between the engine and exterior components, this is part of why modern cars have such tall hood placement. The pushrod design in the Corvette allows the top of the engine to be much lower in the car. The result is a vehicle that can't really be matched in CG, or aerodynamically.