Webber leaves mark on German GP

New Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ Series, as the world has known it since 1968, is dead. For reasons known only to themselves or to market research people who got their sums wrong, Jaguar got the idea that its customers preferred to live in a time warp and as a result, the XJ model of early 2010 looked remarkably like the original, which happened to be a head-turner, but that was 41 years ago. Hardly a soul outside the UK or certain isolated parts of the US even gave the “old” XJ a thought and the fact is that the buying base even in these countries dwindled alarmingly as the competition concentrated on advanced technology and cars that looked as though they were created in the 21st century.
Smaller cousins, the S and X-Types were both based on Ford platforms and both remained faithful to the retro look, much to the detriment of the former, which never really gained market acceptance and has now departed.
The slow-selling X-Type (a Ford Mondeo under the skin) staggers on, but the real move into the modern world came in 2008 with the introduction of the mid-size XF which thankfully shed the historical mantra and is all the better for it in every sense.
Ironically, this much-need change of direction coincided with the change of ownership of Jaguar from Ford to Tata and the new XJ, unveiled last week in London, continued the theme of all-change at Jaguar.  Unfortunately, someone thought it was a good idea to anchor the unveiling around American TV showman, Jay Leno, who I thought was painfully corny but not corny enough to trump the star of the show which was the new XJ.
The latest offering from the British midlands, or should that be Tata, inherits far more of the XF gene pool than the William Lyons’ (a Jaguar founder) pool so it definitely looks as though it belongs in the 21st century.
It is expected that long and standard wheelbase versions will be available from launch at the year end and that engine options will include three variants of Jaguar’s direct injection 5 litre V8, two probably with supercharging. A 3 litre twin turbo V6 will also be available in Europe at least. The car’s public launch will be at Frankfurt in September.
Clarkson again
Jeremy Clarkson of BBC Top Gear fame is the self-proclaimed “most influential car journalist in the world” and there is no doubt that he does and says a lot of things purely to draw more attention to what he is up to. Mostly, I find him (and especially his two side kicks) very humorous, but there is no doubt whatever that some of his acidic remarks lack substance and can be very harmful to manufacturers who get on the receiving end of subjective reporting.
Recently, he earned himself a few extra column centimetres of publicity when he slammed certain elements of the Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series. Not long ago, he frothed at the mouth in praise of the CLK 63 AMG Black Series whereas the immensely powerful SL, he opined, is endowed with “mind boggling’ speed, but the traction control comes “down like an anvil” such that the only way you can drive it realistically is slowly!  
Further, the special carbon seats from Merc’s “agony range” make this SL “the most uncomfortable car in all of human history”. I gather he gave his toilet seat a thumbs up when compared with sitting in this Merc sledgehammer.