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Ben Chia

The Jaguar F-Pace: Graceful, Spacious, Breathtaking

September 15, 2017 • Ben Chia

We live in fast changing times and many traditions have fallen by the wayside in the name of progress. Nothing is really sacred anymore, and with every passing day of this 21st century we see more breakthroughs as more barriers get broken.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the automotive industry. Once upon a time, you knew exactly what you were getting when you choose a luxury marque like Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Jaguar. Their model line-ups consisted purely of well-appointed, finely-crafted luxury saloons, occasionally complemented by highly-engineered sports cars to capture the imagination. It’s just the way things were, the natural order of things.

These days however, you can get a Mercedes-Benz or BMW in almost every shape and form imaginable. But while Jaguar hasn’t quite reached that stage of expansion yet, they too simply couldn’t stave off the inevitable; and it was only a matter of time before they broke out of their comfort zone.

The F-Pace marks the first time ever that Jaguar has produced a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), a bold move, but a necessary one to remain relevant in these modern times. The challenge however, is whether this groundbreaking Jaguar can still retain the quintessential British charm and qualities that make a true Jaguar.

Given Jaguar’s close links with Land Rover, it wouldn’t be surprising if the F-Pace took in some of its sister company’s DNA and ends up being a truly capable off-roader in its own right. That much is a given, but a Jaguar has to be so much more than just sheer driving ability. It also has to ooze class, and offer subtle performance, cloaked in a velvet glove of luxury.

And it does. The top-of-the-line 3.0 V6 Supercharged S version blitzes from 0-100km/h in a mere 5.8 seconds, a hugely impressive feat for an SUV that weighs over 1.8 tonnes. With 380 throbbing horses and 450Nm of torque awaiting under the bonnet, the F-Pace offers exhila-rating performance that few can rival. Just a mere tickle of the right pedal and the F-Pace whooshes away at a velocity that can match more than a few sports cars, and then some.

At the same time, there’s very little that gives away the car’s performance potential. Its pow-erful, agile looks and sporting character give the F-Pace a unique road presence, emphasised by the assertive and imposing front end design, sharp crease lines along the flanks, and pro-nounced rear haunches that announces in no uncertain terms that the F-Pace means busi-ness, but does so in a subtle way that doesn’t shout its way through.

It sounds the part too, with the raspy exhaust giving the F-Pace a distinctive character that is not quite as ostentatious as the F-Type, but yet at the same time offers enough aural presence to let you know that it packs some serious heat underneath. It adds another emotional dimension to what is already an experience to behold.

While the F-Pace certainly proves to have the driving performance that one would expect from Jaguar, it also embraces the new world with its technological advances. One particularly novel piece of forward thinking is the Activity Key, a feature designed with the lifestyles of the modern SUV user in mind.

The Activity Key solves the issue of not being able to carry your car keys with you at all times, issues which arises during the partaking of activities such as swimming or cycling. The Activity Key is worn as a wristband, is completely waterproof, and is able to unlock the car simply by scanning it against the boot lid. The car key fob meanwhile can remain in the car, and will be deactivated when the Activity Key is in use, until the car is unlocked.

In many ways, the F-Pace manages to tick off the requisite boxes that makes it a true Jaguar. It boasts no shortage of pace, expressed in gentle but uncompromising grace, and at the same time now offers plenty of space. The F-Pace may not seem like a Jaguar in the traditional sense, but under the skin there’s no simply no hiding for this cat within.

Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 V6 Supercharged S

Engine: 2,995cc, V6, supercharged
Power: 380bhp
Torque: 450Nm @ 4,500rpm
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100km/h: 5.8 seconds
Fuel Efficiency: 8.9L/100km
CO2: 209g/km
Availability: Now

Deus Ex Machina F-Pace Jaguar SUV

A Legend Reborn

July 12, 2016 • Ben Chia

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type
Jaguar Lightweight E-Type

Jaguar may have built its reputation on finely-crafted luxury saloons and stylish sports cars that capture the imagination as well as deliver performance in that quintessentially British way—always refined but still capable of mixing it with the best.

But Jaguar also has a rich motorsport heritage coursing through its veins; its history is filled with stories of cars built for both road and track. And no other car encapsulates that essence more than the E-Type, arguably the most famous and iconic Jaguar of all time.

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type sideview
Jaguar Lightweight E-Type sideview

While most will remember the E-Type as a gorgeous automotive art piece from the 1960s, it is often forgotten that the E-Type is also very much a competitive sports car in its own right. And to remind us all once again, Jaguar has revived a special version of its legendary car, rebuilt to original specifications to be enjoyed by a new generation of enthusiasts today.

The story of the Lightweight E-Type begins in February 1963, with the creation of the ‘Special GT E-Type’ project. The intention was to build a limited run of race cars based upon the standard E-Type road car, and it was decided that 18 units would be the magical number, ensuring that only an exclusive group of Jaguar customers would get to take this unique creation out onto the race tracks.

Eventually, however, only 12 cars were completed by the time Jaguar decided to call time on the project in 1964, and the remaining six Lightweight E-Type chassis numbers had laid dormant for over half a century. Until now, that is.

Jaguar Classic, part of Jaguar’s Special Operations division, announced in 2014 that it would rebuild the ‘missing’ six Lightweight E-Types as per the car’s original specifications detailed back in 1963. Employing a combination of modern and classic techniques, the ‘new’ Jaguar Lightweight E-Type is a unique creation that will stand alongside its original counterparts as among the rarest cars of its kind in the world.

Aluminium features heavily in the creation of the Lightweight E-Type, hence its name. The body shell is crafted entirely in the material, allowing it to shed some 114kg over the standard E-Type. It also means the Lightweight E-Type was a precursor of sorts, with aluminium now forming a big part in the construction of Jaguar cars today. As a result, there was no shortage of expertise when it came to rebuilding the Lightweight E-Type of today.

Jaguar however took the decision not to incorporate modern materials and methods when it came to the recreation of the Lightweight E-Type, as it wanted to ensure that its status as an authentic classic was maintained. Instead, technology was used to determine how to best recreate the car as faithfully as the originals, while at the same time making sure that the car was built to the highest quality where possible.

The Lightweight E-Type was completely hand-built at Jaguar’s Browns Lane facility in Coventry, England, and runs on a highly-developed version of the straight-six that powered the regular E-Types. In this iteration, which was also used in the Jaguar C and D-Type racers in the 1950s, the engine features chain-driven twin overhead camshafts and an aluminium head with hemispherical combustion chambers, features which were highly advanced in its time.

The engine block too was built from aluminium for further weight savings, and customers were given a choice of having the engine with either three 45DCO3 Weber carburettors, or a Lucas mechanical fuel injection system. Either way, the result is an output of over 345bhp and 380Nm of torque, offering plenty of performance in a car weighing just a ton.

While the ‘new’ Lightweight E-Type has been rebuilt for the new century, Jaguar has strived to ensure that the car remains as true to its original heritage as possible. From the wooden steering wheel and period-correct Dunlop racing tyres, to the unpainted aluminium interior sections such as the floorpan and sills, the ‘new’ Lightweight E-Type is as authentic as it can get, bearing nearly no difference to the originals that left Jaguar’s factory back in 1963. And for the lucky six owners, which includes Mr S K Quek from Singapore, they will receive a truly legendary piece of automotive history.

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type

Engine: 3,868cc, straight-six, naturally-aspirated
Power: 345bhp
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,500rpm
Gearbox: 4-speed manual
Top Speed: NA
0-100km/h: NA
Fuel Efficiency: NA
CO2: NA
Availability: NA

Deus Ex Machina

Spanish Fly

July 12, 2016 • Ben Chia

GTA Spano
GTA Spano

Spain won’t be the first country that comes to mind when supercars are mentioned, but the Iberian nation does have speed running through its heritage, despite a lack of notable automotive creations. One just needs to look at the bevy of iconic race tracks peppered across the country, as well as the number of champions it has produced in the world of motorsport, both four wheels and two, to know that this country has plenty of high octane petrol fuelling its veins.

No surprise then to find that the GTA Spano is a product of a company that has a made its mark in racing. Spania GTA, the creators of the Spano, was founded in 1994 by Domingo Ochoa, and the company has competed in various motorsport championships across Europe, including the likes of the European F3 Open championship, the Superleague Formula championship, and International Open GT championship, the latter of which it finished runner-up once.

Having achieved success on the motor racing stage, Ochoa decided to take the next step and fulfill a lifelong dream of building a supercar. Thus the GTA Spano was born, produced with knowledge gleaned from over 20 years of competition, and combining the ultimate in performance, luxury, elegance and exclusivity.

Designed by Spania GTA’s engineering director, Sento Pallardo, the GTA Spano is restricted to just 99 units worldwide, all of which will be built to order according to customer request. Its exclusivity is thus ensured for future collector value, and the fact that it is the fastest and most powerful car ever produced in Spain further enhances its iconic status.

GTA Spano sideview
GTA Spano sideview

The GTA Spano’s design is a vivid demonstration of function over form, with aerodynamics playing a huge part in shaping the car’s aesthetics. Two large air intakes dominate the front; and together with its convex-shaped bonnet, help facilitate air flow over the car, giving it a look almost akin to an athlete waiting to spring into action.

The doors fit neatly into the side air intakes, which perform vital functions such as cooling the oil, as well as the brakes and steering. At the rear, the car has been designed to channel air flow over its body, with the rear wing and twin exhaust outlets being key design elements to emphasise the car’s sporting pretensions. The rear glass windscreen is flanked by various openings to help with cooling the mid-mounted engine, and further aid aerodynamics.

GTA Spano engine
GTA Spano engine

Certainly, the engine does need plenty of cooling, for it is a true powerhouse capable of outgunning plenty of other supercars currently available out there. The 7.9-litre twin-turbocharged V10 is capable of producing a sensational 925bhp, with a truly colossal 1,200Nm of torque. The result is a 0-100km/h sprint time of an incredible 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of over 370km/h. Such are numbers which are hard to beat by anyone, and puts the GTA Spano right amongst the top of the supercar elite.

GTA Spano interior
GTA Spano interior

Despite its status as a high-end supercar with breathtaking performance, the GTA Spano does not compromise on luxury and comfort when you step into its interior. High quality leather and carbon fibre are used extensively here, and the overall ambience is one of sporting luxury, offering focused performance with a true sense of exclusivity.

The instrument panel boasts an LCD screen that can be customised by the customer, and displays all the vital information a driver requires while piloting the GTA Spano. It also includes controls to adjust various systems, such as the front bodywork aerodynamics, the rear wing, and the opacity of the glass roof.

GTA Spano panel
GTA Spano panel

Technology also plays a big part in the GTA Spano’s development, with the car boasting a number of high-tech innovations that make this a truly modern supercar for today. For instance, instead of a rear view mirror, the GTA Spano uses a rear camera that projects its view on the LCD screen located on the dashboard. The panoramic glass roof is also adjustable for opacity, allowing one to vary the amount of light being let in.

In terms of chassis development, Spania GTA has spared no effort in making the GTA Spano as competitive as it can be. The chassis itself is built from carbon fibre, graphene, titanium and kevlar, extremely strong and light materials for greater rigidity and offers the best combination for safety and performance. As such, the monocoque weighs a mere 80kg, with its total kerb weight just 1,350kg. Finally, the GTA Spano boasts self-adjusting shock absorbers so that the height of the car can be varied by up to 8cm, to help it cope with adverse road obstacles such as bumps and slopes.

Perhaps the best news of all is that the GTA Spano is now available in Singapore, having being brought in by EuroSports Global, the authorised dealer for the brand here. So European high-performance exclusivity is certainly within reach for supercar collectors looking for a unique Spanish fly like the GTA Spano.

GTA Spano

Engine: 7,990cc, V10, twin-turbocharged
Power: 925bhp
Torque: 1,220Nm @ 6,300rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed sequential automatic
Top Speed: 370km/h
0-100km/h: 2.9 seconds
Fuel Efficiency: NA
CO2: NA
Availability: Now

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