MIT car show predicts the future, and more in auto news this week
MIT’s distinctive vehicles
One reason for heading to a car show is to see “something different.’’
We suspect the folks at MIT will be offering just that today (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) when the staff and students present their “distinctive’’ car and vehicle show.
The event takes place on campus at the Hayward street parking lot. Admission is $10 for adults at the door and $5 for children (4-12).
Bill Litant, from MIT’s aeronautics and astronautics department, advises that cars will come from three sources.
1. MIT labs, research centers, and related companies. These will include prototype self-driving (autonomous) cars, AgeLab instrumented vehicles for older drivers, the MIT Electric Vehicle team’s electric Porsche, an electric race car, a “personal’’ monorail car, and the 1927-28 Nichols Bug created by alumnus Art Nichols.
2. The MIT Community. These will include an electric MGB, a bicycle that looks like the “Very Hungry Caterpillar,’’ a plexi-glass bicycle, vintage motorcycles, and some exotic and muscle cars.
3. Some vehicles from interested “outsiders,’’ including an Ariel Atom, Teslas, a BMW i8, hybrid bicycles, and a recently completed operational replica of the Lost in Space Chariot.
Story continues after gallery.
The Subaru Impreza and 9 other affordable cars full of cool technology:
[bdc-gallery id=”1420402″]
Jaguar’s new lineup
Like most husbands, I’ve forgotten a few “significant’’ dates. However, on one long ago Valentine’s Day I brought home an ‘80s Jaguar for Mrs. G. It wasn’t new, but it was British Racing Green with a saddle leather interior.
Mrs. G. drove and loved that Jag until it lost its battle with rust.
Jaguar’s current stable—the XF premium sedan, the XJ flagship sedan, and the F-Type luxury coupe and convertible—is out of our price range.
Now that may be changing.
Jaguar representatives were in town early this month to give the New England Motor Press Association an update of what’s in the product pipeline.
On the horizon are two new “entry-level’’ luxury vehicles that potentially will triple Jaguar’s United States market from 380,000 to 1.2 million buyers.
The first is the mid-sized XE sport sedan, which has an MSRP ranging from $34,900 to $41,700.
The car has been on sale around the world for a while now, but the US debut has been delayed until next spring when the all-wheel-drive versions will be ready.
The XE will be available in four trim levels—base, premium, prestige, and R-Sport. Engine options include a 2-liter turbocharged engine with 240 horsepower, a 2-liter diesel with 180 HP and 318 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 3-liter V-6 with 340 HP.
Power goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. In AWD versions, power is transferred to the front wheels via an instinctive system.
“Jaguar has been doing very well,’’ says vice president of communications Stuart Schorr. “Global sales have more than doubled in five years as the brand settled in under the ownership of India’s Tata Motors.’’
That’s something a lot of industry observers doubted when Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008.
“But we’re limited in our market. The new vehicles, the XE sport sedan and F-Pace compact luxury SUV, open up that bigger potential market,’’ says Schorr.
The XE is aluminum intensive, with Jaguar styling cues (long hood, short overhangs, power bulge in the hood), luxury interior, and outstanding ride and handling.
It will compete with the Acura TLX, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Just as intriguing is Jaguar’s foray into the SUV world, normally the province of the Land Rover part of the operation.
But the F-Pace, a luxury compact “performance’’ SUV, will be coming next year as an early 2017 model, joining the fast-growing small crossover/SUV segment.
The Jaguar Instinctive AWD system will be standard with any of the three available engines—the same 2-liter diesel from the XE line or a 3-liter gas engine that produces 340 horsepower in one iteration and 380 HP in another.
Pricing will range from $40,900 to $56,700 for the vehicle, which had its worldwide coming out party last month at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
Jaguar has announced some interesting technical tweaks for the F-Pace.
One is the “Jaguar Activity Key,’’ a wristband that will allow the wearer to access the vehicle. It means someone driving the vehicle to a road race or other outside activity can leave the keys locked and hidden in the vehicle while they’re off exercising or competing.
Another is the AWD’s “Adaptive Surface Response’’ which sends power to each of the four wheels to smoothly launch the F-Pace out of a snowy parking spot, sandy beach, muddy field, or wet grass.
“Jaguar has the desirable brand name. Now we have product to appeal to a wider segment of buyers, and have made it a better value proposition,’’ says Schorr.
So what’s next?
“We want to give buyers assurance of reliability. Our brand has been in the Top 3 of J.D. Power’s Initial Quality study every year since 2009. But it appears we still have to convince some people,’’ says Schorr.
“So we’re offering a best-in-class 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty that includes all scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance.’’
It’s an enticing proposition, one that has these Jaguar representatives anticipating a bright future.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com