Jaguar XK gets upgrades and price cuts as well as a slightly better front end.

• Two special edition Jaguar XK models – in Signature and Dynamic  R specification – available to order now at Jaguar UK dealers
• Both new derivatives to be available in Coupé and Convertible form
• The performance focused 510PS XK Dynamic R model benefits from a standard fit Black Dynamic Pack, incorporating XKR-S suspension and dynamics and a 10mm reduction in ride height, plus Speed Pack aerodynamic upgrades and a range of other additions including the new Diamond Sewn Performance seat with contrast stitch
• The luxury focused 385PS XK Signature model comes equipped with 20” Kalimnos wheels and Reverse Park Camera as standard, plus additional luxury features
• Both Signature and Dynamic R models are offered with a choice of premium exterior paint colours  and interior combinations
• XK Signature is priced at £54,950 with XK Dynamic R on sale at £69,950 on-the-road

The first Jaguar car to be created under the leadership of Design Director Ian Callum, the dramatic and purposeful XK, is receiving a number of additions for the 2015 model year that add to its palette of impressive performance technologies and luxury features.

Two special edition models will be available in exclusive Signature and Dynamic R specifications. The 2015 Model Year XK line-up now comprises Signature, Dynamic R and R-S derivatives.

The luxury focused XK Signature model – with a 385PS 5.0-litre V8 engine – is fitted with a host of additional features including standard 20” Kalimnos wheels and Reverse Park Camera, while the performance focused 510PS 5.0-litre supercharged XK Dynamic R – based on the existing XKR – offers Black Dynamic Pack, which incorporates XKR-S suspension and dynamics and a 10mm reduction in ride height, plus Speed Pack, which equips the car with an Aerodynamic Pack and an increased top speed of 174mph. A Performance Active Exhaust is also standard equipment.

First deliveries to UK customers of the new XK Signature and Dynamic R editions are expected in March.

XK POWERTRAIN AND DYNAMICS

Jaguar sports cars have a reputation for blending athletic high-performance with effortless cruising comfort. Nothing exemplifies this dual character more clearly than the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine fitted to both XK special edition cars.

Now in its third generation, this engine offers not only tremendous power but also great efficiency by incorporating the very latest technology including spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT). Like the car itself, the engine is constructed from high-grade, lightweight aluminum, which in the cylinder heads is recycled to reduce the environmental impact of manufacture.

The XK Signature can reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds in Coupé guise, and 5.3 seconds for the Convertible, each car producing a meaty 515Nm of torque. The top speed for both variants is electronically limited to 155mph and both cars produce just 264 g/km of CO2. The XK Dynamic R’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8, offers power and torque figures of 510PS and 625Nm respectively, taking the car to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds with a limited top speed of 174mph. Extremely powerful but also efficient, the XK Dynamic R emits 292g/km of CO2.

Both XK Dynamic R and Signature models are fitted with a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles, which control the Jaguar Sequential Shift function for greater driver control.

The supercharged XK Dynamic R edition also benefits from Jaguar's Active Differential Control technology. This uses a multiplate clutch to vector torque to the driven wheel with the most grip. Allied to ABS and stability control, this allows for the ultimate in traction and precision both mid-corner and at its exit. The XK Signature model uses a mechanical differential, which delivers outstanding levels of grip and stability under power.

Both cars feature Dynamic Stability Control system, which offers four modes: Normal, Winter, TracDSC and DSC Off, allowing the enthusiastic driver to choose the level of intervention dependent on road conditions.

The double wishbone front suspension on both cars features a fully-machined steering knuckle which significantly increases camber and castor stiffness by 0.13 degrees per kilo newton, to transform the accuracy and weighting of the steering for greater levels of connection, feedback and precision. Rear suspension geometry benefits from rear wheel steer - optimised for maximum agility.

The XK Dynamic R features as standard the Black Dynamic Pack – incorporating suspension technology from the XKR-S – which adds a stiffer knuckle for improved steering precision, uprated spring and damper settings and Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system, which performs three main functions; controlling vertical body movement, roll and pitch rates. One hundred times every second, Adaptive Dynamics analyses the thousands of inputs and variables which determine ride and handling characteristics. Additionally, the XK Dynamic R’s ride height is lowered by 10mm, giving the car more of an assertive presence on the road. The Dynamic R also comes as standard with Speed Pack, which increases the maximum speed from 155mph to an electronically limited 174mph. In addition to the increased maximum speed, the pack also includes a body-coloured Aerodynamic Pack with front splitter and larger rear spoiler, as well as a body-coloured rear diffuser and side sill extensions. A Performance Active Exhaust is also fitted as standard.

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DETAILS

Standard on the XK Signature are Luxury seats available in Ivory or Charcoal soft grain leather. The interior also features Canvas Suedecloth headlining, Figured Ebony veneers and Bright Metal sport pedals.

The XK Dynamic R boasts Jaguar’s new diamond sewn Performance seat in either Ivory/Charcoal soft grain leather with Ivory contrast stitch or Charcoal/Red soft grain leather with Red contrast stitch leather. Featuring integrated head restraints and increased lateral and squab support, the new seats hold driver and passenger securely and comfortably in place. The 16-way adjustment of squab, cushion, lumbar and bolster elements is supplemented by memory and heating functions. The interior Jet Suedecloth headliner is complemented with Piano Black veneers. Bright Metal sport pedals are also fitted as standard.

The central seven-inch touch-screen provides an intuitive interface for the extensive technology that is seamlessly incorporated into the XK, including iPod and USB connectivity and satellite navigation with DVD mapping. The central screen also projects the image from the new Reverse Park Camera, which is fitted as standard to both special edition cars.

The XK Signature comes with 20’’ Kalimnos wheels as standard, with 20” Takoba wheels available as an option, while the XK Dynamic R has 20” Vortex diamond turned wheels – with distinctive Red painted brake calipers – and the option of 20” Vulcan Gloss Black lightweight alloys.

Both the XK Signature and Dynamic R editions are available with a choice of exterior body colours – Polaris White, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Italian Racing Red, Dark Sapphire and British Racing Green.

TMW - EUROPEAN SALES - Full brand sales in Europe for 2013

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2013 was a year of varying successes and failures, however overall 2013 was most probably the year that the Europe wide fall in sales finally flat-lined, there were some huge stories that hit the worldwide media over the last twelve months, namely the takeover of Chrysler by FIAT, VW's continued dominance in Europe, followed far far behind by the PSA group, who themselves are in continued talks about mergers, takeovers and financial dire straits.

But the main story, well on this blog, is the brilliant news that Jaguar Land Rover carry on where they left off 2012, and thats higher sales, better profits, more models, and more improvement in reliability. as well as the awards, that just flowed month after month to JLR, The stunning F-Type, new Sport and the big daddy, Range Rover, all said hello, and like a hound after a hare, the sales shot off, at a high rate of knots, the next few years will be a huge one for JLR, with massive investment, the new Engine plant at Wolverhampton UK, comes on stream this year, the new 3-Series competitor will emerge, as well as the new XF, and SUV.

The last year or two have been devoted to getting Range Rover right, this has been done, now it is the turn of Land Rover and Jaguar, with the Freelander name disappearing and being replaced with the Discovery moniker making Discovery a brand in its own right, but this is not all, a brand new plant in India, China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia are all with built, building or in the planning stages, JLR will become a huge company, one that the likes of BMW and Mercedes will do well to keep their eyes on.

SEAT and Skoda saved VAG by adding over 40,000 models to the 2012 sales, but VW, AUDI and Porsche all took hits keeping 13's sales below 12's, however the mighty VAG will not rest on its laurels, they did sell nearly three million cars in the EU last year, and nearly Ten Million worldwide, so a few thousand is really nothing, but I am sure that there will be meetings and conversations high up to fathom out the issues and processes put in place to ensure it does not happen this year.

The French brands fared little better, -8.4% for the PSA company and up 4.4% for Renault Group, however it was the Dacia brand that saved Renault, and a massive first year in the UK where it sold over 17,000 cars in its first year, not bad for an unknown brand, its seems that the UK customer did indeed do the maths (reference to the UK TV advertising "Dacia - You do the maths"), Peugeot and Citroen, for two old brands, with great products 2013 was a let down, but 2014 will be better, Peugeot will have the youngest range of products in its history, Citroen will continue with the DS brand and push it further into China, and with the 308 coming on stream worldwide, along with the 208 and 2008, this year will be a significant year for the French giants.

FIAT Group, well, where to start, what a rubbish year in Europe, every brand in their portfolio fell, even the great Ferrari didn't do exceptionally well in Europe, Alfa needs a Miracle, Lancia needs putting to sleep, FIAT needs billions of euros to turn it around, and Chrysler just has not succeeded in the EU, the real story with FIAT is the takeover of Chrylser and the continued slide of Alfa Romeo, it is surely going to take a vast amount of money and talent to get FIAT Group back on top.

Of the other US brands, both had minor falls, Ford dropped 3.2% and GM by 4.3% with Vauxhall saving GM further embarrassment, by increasing sales by over 11% in the UK, adding 20,000 extra sales, 2014 will be interesting to watch, to see if the announcement of Chevrolet pulling out of Europe will effect sales, I am sure that GM wont be advertising the fact, as any sales are worthwhile, even if they are pulling out.

The so called premium brands, BMW and Mercedes were complete opposites, with BMW+MINI dropping and Mercedes+SMART rising, of the remaining brands in Europe only Kia and Mazda managed to increase sales on the previous year, but with the majority of the drops only small numbers, just saying drop or rise is a little innocuous, overall the Europe market dropped by a rather insignificant 1.7%, but that 1.7% equates to about 200,000 sales, and that's not to be ignored.

2014 will be a year of change, more emphasis on China for a lot of brands will bolster sagging sales elsewhere, most companies have significant new car releases this year, so again sales figures will be buoyant, and with the increased sales, the fight for customers will start again, with various offers, finance packages and deals to tempt, even the most tight fisted buyer, these in turn will start the spiral that eventually ended up with the entire worldwide market crashing back in 2008, have any of the Motor Manufacturers taken note and will they act accordingly, don't be silly, it will just carry on as before, the belts will tighten, and gradually they will slip, and sometime in the future, we will all be back here doing the same thing.

In the mean time, enjoy the great new cars that are due this year, and take advantage of any and all offers that are around, and remember, at the end of the day, it is only a car, and not life and death, duh, what a lot of rubbish, we live for cars around here, and any new car is met with a smile and a great deal of interest, that's why we publish all we can. Enjoy them all and here is to the next 11 months of new releases, hopefully better sales and lots of interesting news and gossip from around the world.

Jon Mower

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year

• Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year at Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event
• Jaguar products praised for distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum has this week been named ‘Industry Innovator of the Year’ at the 2014 Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event Awards.  Jaguar was recognised by the MAIN Event Executive Committee as the ultimate definition of automotive luxury and praised for its distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics.  The ceremony took place at Orchestra Hall, Detroit, in front of an audience of over 700 automotive executives, designers and international media.

Presenting the trophy to Ian, Keith Nagara, Executive Committee Chairman said: “Jaguars are beautiful vehicles that all generations aspire to own.  They epitomise the ultimate in automotive luxury, desirability and craftsmanship.  Ian Callum has led the design revolution at Jaguar that has helped transform the brand, most recently demonstrated by the launch of the stunning F-TYPE Coupé.  This is a brand that is going from strength to strength.”

Ian Callum said: “It is an honour to receive this award.  It is with the benefit of having such a great team around me that we have been able to deliver the cars and designs that define Jaguar today.”

Ian Callum has been at the forefront of the transformation of Jaguar's design aesthetic since joining the brand in 1999. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, he studied Industrial Design at the Glasgow School of Art.  Upon graduating, Callum opted to specialise in vehicle design, enrolling at the Royal College of Art (RCA) on the Automobile Design course, and has since received five honorary doctorates from universities around the world. Callum is responsible for Jaguar design language created over the past decade, which includes the current Jaguar XK, XF, XJ and the recently launched F-TYPE sports car.

Staged in Detroit on the eve of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS),the annual celebration of automotive excellence allocates four awards across design and industry.  Each year two industry executives whose achievements have made a substantial global impact, leading their institutions to set new standards of industry innovation, are recognised at the awards. Celebrating not only established excellence, the next generation of automotive talent is selected by the MAIN Executive Committee from current design students at Lawrence Technological University.

USA- - Jaguar announces three renowned actors to appear in its first super bowl commercial launching “British Villains” campaign for new F-Type coupe

• Renowned British actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong to star in Jaguar’s cinematic “Rendezvous” spot, filmed by Oscar-winning British director Tom Hooper
• The 60-second ad will debut during Super Bowl XLVIII, February 2 on Fox
• Spot launches “British Villains” campaign, running through July, and raises the bar of automotive advertising to cinematic caliber for the introduction of the F-TYPE Coupe, Jaguar’s all-new, high-performance sports car
• Robust, multi-channel campaign includes broadcast, digital, print, OOH and innovative Super Bowl week activations
• Jaguar grows U.S. sales by 41 percent in 2013 on power of F-TYPE convertible and new all-wheel drive XF and XJ models

Today, Jaguar North America announced the three renowned actors to appear in “Rendezvous,” its 60-second television advertisement to debut during the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII, and revealed details of its largest-ever brand and product marketing campaign, called “British Villains,” which introduces the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe (on sale spring, 2014). “Rendezvous” stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong, and was filmed by Oscar-winning British director, Tom Hooper, in London. It is Jaguar’s first Super Bowl TV advertisement.

“With ‘British Villains,’ Jaguar will present itself on the Super Bowl stage as a challenger to the usual luxury car suspects, with a unique cinematic expression of our modern British style,” said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. “With the three renowned actors, Sir Ben, Tom and Mark, who have all played memorable film rogues, we have brought together the best of British film to star in a major motion picture caliber campaign that addresses the simple cultural observation that Brits often play the best villains in film. This talent, coupled with the direction of Academy Award-winner director Tom Hooper, enables us to launch our campaign for the F-TYPE Coupe in a manner that captures the new spirit of the entire brand inspired by our latest sports car.”

“Jaguar is truly a beloved British brand and it’s exciting to help them make some noise as they debut in a beloved American event, the Super Bowl,” said Sir Ben Kingsley. “As for being known for playing the roles of renowned villains, I’ll have to ponder that one – I think I’m flattered?!”

The campaign creative, developed with a cinematic vision, centers around the new “Rendezvous” television commercial. In addition to the 60-second spot to air in the Super Bowl, a 30-second preview of “Rendezvous” will debut online on January 28 and run on high-profile, digital channels throughout February. Jaguar also previewed its Super Bowl spot with “The Setup,” staring Sir Ben Kingsley, during the CBS and FOX NFL Divisional Playoff games, January 11 and 12. At the end of the commercial, viewers were invited to view “The Setup” on the campaign’s dedicated landing page, www.BritishVillains.com, and use the unique hashtag, #GoodToBeBad to engage with the brand throughout the campaign. The original score for “Rendezvous” was composed and conducted by Alexandre Desplat, who worked with Tom Hooper on The King’s Speech and recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra at the iconic Abbey Road studios.

The “British Villains” campaign and its many supporting assets were produced specifically for the launch of the F-TYPE Coupe around the broadcast of the 2014 Super Bowl and builds on the momentum of Jaguar following the successful launch of the F-TYPE convertible and a 41 percent sales increase in 2013.

“2014 will continue a very significant period in the growth of the Jaguar brand, marked by quickly rising sales, and new beautifully designed products coming to market, like the F-TYPE Coupe this year, and in the future, an all-new compact sports sedan,” added Curry. “This is perhaps the brand’s most memorable marketing campaign and deserves to appear in one of the most-watched sporting events, the Super Bowl.”

“British Villains” captures the premise that Brits have long made the best villains in landmark films, combining intelligence with charm, restlessness with calm, and always confident. In the world of pop culture, villains disrupt the status quo and challenge the establishment, while living one step ahead of, and better than, the pack. The campaign asks the question, ‘Have you ever noticed how in Hollywood movies, all the villains are played by Brits?’ It was filmed by Hooper in London in a creative partnership with his Smuggler Films production house.

“This is one of those jobs that can really be a lot of fun, so I was quite happy to oblige when Jaguar asked me to be a part of their first Super Bowl commercial,” said Hooper. “To work with the caliber of great actors we cast in this project is a truly special experience on its own and reflects the cinematic approach that we took in the production with Jaguar.”

SPARK44, the lead strategic communications partner for Jaguar, was responsible for the creative positioning and strategy behind the campaign, while Mindshare managed the communications planning and buying. In addition to broadcast, the multi-channel campaign will feature unique outdoor creative throughout New York City, print, digital and consumer activations hosted with a wide array of media partners, and special events in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

During the game, Jaguar aims to be the most real-time engaged advertiser during the Super Bowl through a unique physical space called “The Loop,” developed by Mindshare, where multiple screens will monitor real-time consumer data and translate it into actionable insights, and ultimately, rapid marketing decisions, or “Adaptive Marketing.”

“The Loop” is the first real-time marketing tool to impact paid media – whereby media dollars can be quickly shifted and redeployed to leverage opportunities uncovered by the data. Rapid, relevant and responsive, “The Loop” puts data at the center and creates a channel-agnostic, holistic approach to real-time marketing in an unprecedented manner.

Other marketing assets from Jaguar’s “British Villains” campaign include:

• New York City out-of-home placements, including an innovative F-TYPE wrap of 10 subway cars on the F-Train line (CBSOutdoor) and 20 street level wild postings in New York City, January 13 through February 9
• Cable TV run of the 30-second “Rendezvous” spot on networks such as BBC America, IFC and ESPN, February 3 through February 23
• Print ads break in early February (March/April books) in top national lifestyle and auto enthusiast publications such as Motor Trend, Car and Driver and Sports Illustrated
• Digital Advertising (banner ads) breaks on January 20
• A BritishVillains.com landing page will launch on JaguarUSA.com, hosting “in-character” five-second sound bites from Sir Ben, Tom and Mark, that speak to capabilities of Jaguar’s high-performance R models and an in-depth behind-the-scenes making of “Rendezvous;” it also will allow users to view additional content, share content on social media sites and gather information about the F-TYPE Coupe and the R line of performance cars
• Media buys with BBC America.com for their “Anglophenia” blog, and with NFL.com for “The 6 Borough Experience
• Integrated partnerships with IFC, Gawker, Sports Illustrated and Pandora that includes:
• IFC to present “Villains on Villains” Double Feature Film Night on February 10, featuring Silence of the Lambs and A Clockwork Orange, iconic films starring British villains
• Gawker Media is producing and publishing a themed kinja page, http://goodtobebad.kinja.com/, and is hosting a co-sponsored event in the week leading up to the Super Bowl
• Sports Illustrated will host British Villains advertising on SI.com, while Jaguar will sponsor an original video series about infamous sports villains
• Jaguar will team up with Pandora Radio to invite subscribers to contribute to the GoodToBeBad Mixtape – a crowdsourced compilation of the best of British music for release on January 20.

The new all-aluminum F-TYPE Coupe, including the first F-TYPE R model, expands the Jaguar lineup beginning in spring 2014 and starting at $65,0001. Available in three versions, the F-TYPE R Coupe is powered by a 550hp 5-liter supercharged V8 engine and will reach 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, and a top speed of 186 mph (electronically limited)2. The F-TYPE S Coupe and F-TYPE Coupe are powered by 3-liter supercharged V6 engines in 380hp and 340hp forms respectively, going 0-60 mph in 4.8/5.1 seconds and top speeds of 171/161 mph2.

Biographies of Jaguar’s “British Villains” campaign stars:

Sir Ben Kingsley is recognized as one of the finest British actors and first earned international fame for his performance in the 1982 movie, Gandhi. His performance as "Mahatma Gandhi" earned him international fame. He has won multiple awards, including an Oscar for Best Actor, a Golden Globe, BAFTA and London Film Critics' Circle Awards. Kingsley has appeared in countless other acclaimed films, including Schindler's List, The Tale of Sweeney Todd and Anne Frank: The Whole Story, for which he won a Screen Actors' Guild Award. Throughout his career, Kingsley has played many “villainous” roles, including those in the films Sexy Beast and Iron Man 3. He was awarded Knight Bachelor in the Queen's New Year's Honors List in 2002. In 2010, Kingsley was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tom Hiddleston is a young British actor and is best known for playing the character of Loki in the Marvel Studios films Thor, The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World. Other notable roles have included Steven Spielberg's World War I film War Horse, Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive, the British drama The Deep Blue Sea, Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris, the 2012 BBC series Henry IV and Henry V. He is currently playing Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse at Covent Garden theatre in London's West End. Tom won the MTV Movie Award for ‘Best Fight’ and ‘Best Villain’ in 2013 for his role in The Avengers.

Mark Strong is a British actor who is best known for his roles in Sherlock Holmes, Body of Lies, The Young Victoria, Syriana, Kick-Ass, Green Lantern, Zero Dark Thirty, Robin Hood, and John Carter. He often portrays villains or antagonists. Strong is also a familiar face on British television, where he has had starring roles in two BBC drama series, including Our Friends in the North and The Long Firm, for which he earned a BAFTA nomination.

Tom Hooper is an Academy Award-winning British film and television director best known for his work in The King's Speech (2010), Les Miserables (2012) and The Damned United (2009) and TV mini-series John Adams.

Jaguar Land Rover joins consortium to evaluate safer vehicle solutions.

• Jaguar Land Rover to join a consortium founded by MIT AgeLab, DENSO and Touchstone Evaluations to define and deliver safer vehicle HMI solutions
• The new ‘Advanced Human Factors Evaluator for Automotive Distraction’ (AHEAD) consortium will evaluate the demands on driver workload posed by new human machine interface (HMI) technologies to help manufacturers and suppliers design intuitive, convenient and safe future systems
• The involvement with the AHEAD consortium further strengthens Jaguar Land Rover’s work with leading technology businesses and academia to advance its engineering and design capabilities

Jaguar Land Rover is strengthening its engagement with the world’s leading technology businesses and academic bodies with its involvement in a project that aims to reduce the potential for driver distraction in future vehicle human machine interface (HMI) systems.

By joining the AHEAD (Advanced Human Factors Evaluator for Automotive Distraction) consortium, Jaguar Land Rover will be working with MIT AgeLab, DENSO and Touchstone Evaluations on methods for measuring the demands made on drivers by the latest HMI technologies. This will help to determine new systems that will minimise distraction while delivering convenient, intuitive, engaging and safe operation and meeting potential future industry and regulatory requirements.

The consortium brings together leading researchers, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to take a new look at how the demands of using voice controls, touchscreens and switchgear can be reliably and effectively measured. AHEAD’s goal is to produce a quantifiable, objective evaluation toolkit that can be used across the industry to support new HMI development. This will improve the effectiveness and reliability of data and help manufacturers and electronics suppliers to produce new interfaces that meet all manufacturer, consumer and regulatory requirements.

Jaguar Land Rover’s involvement in AHEAD is the latest in a series of strategic partnerships and academic collaborations that reinforce its research and development of advanced engineering and design capabilities. This is also the first time Jaguar Land Rover has collaborated on a project with MIT.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover’s Director of Research and Technology, said: “The opportunities to provide drivers with access to comprehensive and sophisticated information and communication systems while at the wheel continue to increase at an exceptional rate. While our vision is that our customers will benefit from the most effective, engaging and responsive in-car technologies, we have to be sure that they can be accessed and operated intuitively and safely, with the minimum distraction.

“Our work with MIT AgeLab, DENSO and our other partners in AHEAD will put us in the forefront of understanding the workload placed on the driver. This will be of crucial importance in our development of the future systems we want to deliver to keep pace with the rapid expansion of vehicle and communications technologies.”

Doug Patton, Senior Vice President of Engineering at DENSO America, Inc, said: “We know drivers want to be connected while driving, but how do we safely give drivers what they want? To do this we need to evaluate driver workload, but currently there isn’t a quantifiable and objective metrology model in place. Not to mention, there’s a high price tag attached to researching and developing something like this. With that said, forming a consortium will help reach the goal of establishing a common methodology.”

The current methods for evaluating HMI technologies mainly use criteria developed before the introduction of modern systems such as voice controls, touchscreens and multi-function controllers. They also don’t take into account the impact of the driver moving between different modes of use, such as vision, touch, sound, haptics, gesture and cognition. AHEAD aims to make it more feasible to evaluate demands at an early prototype stage, when design changes can be made more easily and effectively, rather than later in the vehicle development process.

MIT AgeLab has taken a lead in using multi-dimensional assessment, measuring physiological, visual attention and performance measures as part of its HMI evaluation. Dr Bryan Reimer, Associate Director of the New England University Transportation Center at MIT and the MIT technical lead for AHEAD, explained: “Physiological measures complement traditional visual attention and performance measures to provide a more complete picture of the interacting demands of modern HMI.”

Jaguar Land Rover delivers best ever full year global sales performance retailing 425,006 vehicles in 2013, up 19%

• New sales records set in thirty eight international markets for both brands
• Jaguar delivers strongest full year performance since 2005 retailing 76,668 vehicles, up 42%
• Land Rover sets another full year record retailing 348,338 vehicles, up 15%
• Jaguar is the fastest growing brand in Germany, India and the USA
• Global sales success driven by range of new and award winning product introductions
• Jaguar and Land Rover models receive more than 195 international awards with the Jaguar F-TYPE the most decorated vehicle

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles has delivered its strongest ever full year global sales performance thanks to the introduction of a series of multi award winning new vehicles in 2013. Full year retail sales stood at 425,006, up 19%, with strong growth in all major regions and new records set in 38 markets, including Russia, Brazil, Korea and Canada. Regional performance for the full year was as follows: Asia Pacific and the China region up 30%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6%, and other overseas markets up 23%.

Commenting on the company’s sales performance, Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO said: “2013 has proven to be a very positive year for Jaguar Land Rover thanks to continuing strong demand for vehicles across the range. Our unrelenting focus on design, technology, innovation and quality has seen Jaguar Land Rover reach global consumers in more markets than ever before thanks to its most desirable product line-up, enriched further in 2013 by the Jaguar F-TYPE and all-new Range Rover Sport”.

2013 Awards 

Jaguar Land Rover‘s enhanced stable of products received 195 awards in 2013. Jaguar received 80 awards with its most decorated model, the F-TYPE earning the World Car Design of the Year, Germany’s most prestigious award, The Golden Steering Wheel award for the Cabriolet & Coupe Category and BBC Topgear magazine Convertible of the year. Notably Jaguar also received coveted recognition from J.D. Power, being named the UK’s number one automotive brand in the Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Survey (VOSS) and the highest ranking manufacturer among luxury brands in the US J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index Study (SSI).

Land Rover’s full range of vehicles received 115 honours in 2013 with Range Rover topping the Land Rover awards table with 55 accolades including, Luxury Car of the Year by What Car? in the UK, Women’s Luxury Car of the Year by the Women’s World Car of the Year jury and Best Luxury SUV from Edmunds.com and Forbes. Range Rover also achieved the Highest APEAL Score of any model in the J.D. Power 2013 APEAL survey – the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has ranked highest among all models in the industry. The Range Rover Sport, launched in 2013 also received a host of awards including, SUV of the Year by Topgear magazine, Guangzhou Daily in China, Bloomberg.com and EVO magazine in the Middle East.

Jaguar 2013 Sales Performance

Jaguar recorded a 42% year on year increase in sales, selling 76,668 vehicles in 2013 - its strongest full year sales performance since 2005 with new records set in 17 markets including, Brazil, India, Russia and China. The iconic British motoring marque also emerged as the fastest growing premium brand in the USA, Germany and India in 2013. This strong global performance was primarily driven by F-TYPE introduction and a new annual record for XF retailing 47,391 saloon and Sportbrake derivatives. XJ also delivered its best full year performance for ten years with 19,677 vehicle sales with particular strong demand from North America and China thanks to the introduction of the All-Wheel Driveline and an enhanced engine line up which includes the 3.0 V6 and 2.0 4-cylinder petrol engines.

Jaguar delivered year on year increases in every major region with North America now the brand’s top selling region. Full year regional performances were as follows: the China Region up significantly, North America up 44%, Asia Pacific up 33%, Europe up 17%, the UK up 15% and other overseas markets up 31%.

Land Rover 2013 Sales Performance

Land Rover set a new full year sales record retailing 348,338 vehicles in 2013, up 15% on the prior year following record sales of the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque and an incredible performance from all- new Range Rover Sport which was close to equaling its prior record set in 2007, despite having only been on sale for part of the year. The Freelander 2 also delivered a very strong full year performance, up 20% on the prior year.

Sales were up for Land Rover in every major region with annual sales records set in 42 markets, including the UK, USA, Brazil and India.  Full year regional performances were as follows: Asia Pacific up 29%, the China Region up 17%, North America up 15%, the UK up 13%, Europe up 4%, and other overseas markets up 22%.

Commenting on the sales success, Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “2013 has been a great year in which we have seen some incredibly exciting new models launched to customers across the world. The Range Rover Sport, F-TYPE, new engines and drivetrains, and a number of 14 Model Year enhancements to our existing line up have seen Jaguar Land Rover continue to build strong sales momentum in every global region.

It is not just our customers who are delighting in our strongest ever vehicle line up, international journalists bestowed almost 200 awards on our vehicles in 2013 with the F-TYPE, our star performer receiving more than 59 accolades. This recognition is a demonstration that Jaguar Land Rover’s focus is on delivering cars that surpass customer expectations.”

TMW - Its that time of the month - UK December and FULL YEAR sales figures

JAGUAR

DECEMBER 2012 1054 sales - DECEMBER 2013 993 sales -5.79%

YTD 2012 14109 sales - YTD 2013 16210 sales +14.89%

LAND ROVER

DECEMBER 2012 2532 sales - DECEMBER 2013 3012 sales +18.96%
YTD 2012 48626 sales - YTD 2013 54699 sales +12.49%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

DECEMBER 2012 10175 sales - DECEMBER 2013 11470 sales +12.73%
YTD 2012 127560 sales - YTD 2013 135583 sales +6.31%

MERCEDES

DECEMBER 2012 5261 sales - DECEMBER 2013 6619 sales +25.81%
YTD 2012 91855 sales - YTD 2013 109456 sales +19.16%

LEXUS

DECEMBER 2012 390 sales - DECEMBER 2013 629 sales +61.28%
YTD 2012 8404 sales - YTD 2013 9014 sales +7.26%

AUDI

DECEMBER 2012 4786 sales - DECEMBER 2013 7442 sales +55.50%
YTD 2012 123622 sales - YTD 2013 142040 sales +13.26%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +4.64%

CITROEN +6.38%

DACIA +100.00%

FIAT +20.62%

FORD +10.27%

HONDA +2.68%
HYUNDAI +3.54%
KIA +8.20%

LOTUS +86.86%
MAZDA +19.27%

MASERATI +3.24%
MIA +100.00%
MINI +1.19% 

MITSUBISHI +38.10%

NISSAN +11.46%

PEUGEOT +5.98%

PORSCHE +3.28%
RENAULT +13.28%

SEAT +16.79%
SKODA +23.28% 

SUBARU +12.26%
SUZUKI +32.92%
TOYOTA +4.83%
VAUXHALL +11.71%

VOLKSWAGEN +6.00%

VOLVO +2.76%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -21.59%

ASTON MARTIN -0.64%

BENTLEY -2.84%

CHEVROLET -13.36%

CHRYSLER -24.54%

INFINITI -27.17%

JEEP -3.34%

MG -35.55%

PERODUA -50.48%

PROTON -90.38%

SAAB -98.71%

SMART -5.38%

SSANGYONG -24.34%

• 2,264,737 cars registered in 2013, up 10.8% on 2012 and exceeding SMMT’s 2.25 million forecast for the year.

• 2013 hits highest annual registration total since 2007 as December achieves 22nd consecutive monthly rise.

• On average, an additional 600 extra cars registered per day in 2013 than in the previous year.

• UK firmly secured as Europe’s second largest car market and only one to grow consistently throughout 2013.

• 2014 market expected to stabilise with sustainable growth of around 1% over the year.

Well, another year has finished, and it does not seem that long ago i was writing the exact same thing, where the hell does all this time go, It does not seem nearly 30 years ago i left school, with all my hopes and dreams, some that have been achieved, some that have not, and lots of new ones that have made the last 30 years both great and crap.

But anyway, I digress, where shall I start, lets start with the UK lame duck, MG, considering all their protestations about 100's of sales for the brand new and not that good MG3, they still only manage 120 registrations, considering the car went on sale in September last year, and a three month delivery (apart from the 700 already in the UK) they still are far far away from decent sales, they have nothing new for this year, considering it is the 90th anniversary of Cecil Kimbers brand new marque, I bet he is spinning at 3000 rpm in his grave when he sees what has become of his once beloved brand.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), both brands have had yet another great year, with huge increases in sales and lots of new metal for sale, the new F-Type Convertible, RR Sport and his daddy the Range Rover, this year will see the hard top F-Type, concept Jaguar XS (X-Type replacement) more SUV news and possibly towards the year end or early 2015, maybe at Detroit, the XF replacement, the last few years have been predominantly getting Land Rover back on track, this year is Jaguar's turn.

The Americans are not fairing too well in the UK, it seems that US cars are not flavour of the month, and with Chevy pulling out of Europe and Chryslers being Lancia's in disguise, it shows that the UK buyer is not as stupid as they think we are. But wait, Ford, the big daddy of them all, is yet again the UK #1 brand and #1 and #2 for sales with the Fiesta and Focus (Vauxhall's Corsa not far behind), the blue oval is considered an honorary Brit, and so we buy from them in droves, just a shame that they are failing to bring the new Mondeo out, whereas it has been out in the world for ages.

Why anyone would buy the hideous BMW 1-Series is beyond me, there are far better looking cars, it must be that blue roundel and ancient but false assumption of reliability, it seems that the German brands are far from reliable, just check out independent reports about those, SAAB will not be on the chart next year, which will be sad, but hopefully it will return under its new owner (NEVS), and Proton, Perodua, Ssangyong and other weird and wonderful brands will continue and flounder, until they come up with something truly amazing, I, for one, wont be holding my breath.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year, and I wish that 2014 brings you all that you wish for and with the motoring world, a whole host of great new metal for the coming twelve short months.

JON MOWER

USA - December 2013 Sales: Automakers Shatter Records

The end of the year usually brings strong sales figures, and while a good number of automakers saw negative sales numbers for the month, they still managed to break yearly sales records. Some automakers even managed to set new sales records, like Audi who had its best U.S. sales year to date.Looking at the month of December, Honda had its best December sales, while Volkswagen managed to have its second best December since 1972. Other automakers boasted strong months, including Mitsubishi that had its best December in seven years.

We can't look at the month of December and not take a peek at overall sales records. Ford claimed its best year of sales since 2006, Kia had its second best full year of sales in the U.S., and Mazda managed to have its best year of retail-only sales since 1994.Even the luxury automakers outdid themselves. Mercedes-Benz achieved its highest year of sales in the U.S. with 312,534 units sold in 2013. BMW managed to break its U.S. all-time sales record, while both the BMW and Mini brands set new sales records.Take a look at the chart below to see how each automaker finished out 2013.

REPORT HERE

F-Type and Range Rover win big at AUTOBYTEL awards.

• Jaguar F-TYPE wins 2014 'Car Of The Year' and 'Convertible of the Year'
• 2014 Range Rover wins 2014 'Truck Of The Year' and 'Luxury SUV of the Year'

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC announced today that the all-new Jaguar F-TYPE and 2014 Land Rover Range Rover have been named car and truck of the year by Autobytel, highlighting the momentum both brands have achieved coming into 2014.

"Jaguar F-TYPE and Land Rover Range Rover winning both Car and Truck of the Year awards from Autobytel in the same year is a tremendous honor.  This accomplishment is a testament of our commitment to deliver unique, dynamic luxury cars and SUVs that stand out in the marketplace for design and capability," said Joe Eberhardt, President, Jaguar Land Rover, North America. "Not only are the F-TYPE and Range Rover very popular vehicles, but they represent the essence of what the Jaguar and Land Rover brands stand for. We very much appreciate the acknowledgement from the automotive experts at Autobytel."

In the United States, year-to-date through November, 2013, Jaguar sales are up 41 percent helped by the addition to the lineup of the all new F-TYPE convertible.  In the same period, Land Rover sales are up 15 percent with the all new generation Land Rover Range Rover up 60 percent.

Autobytel Inc. is dedicated to helping consumers research and find the information they need to purchase new and used cars and connect to dealers online. The 2013 Car and Truck of the Year Awards were chosen by the editorial group of Autobytel, led by Editor in Chief, Michelle Naranjo. Autobytel editors have driven hundreds of vehicles and have chosen this year's winners based on their game changing potential, advances in design and overall efficiency.

"Our selection process wasn't easy," said Michelle Naranjo, Editor in Chief, Autobytel. "The offerings within each of the vehicle segments we analyzed are extremely competitive, with some of the highest quality products we've seen in recent years. The Jaguar F-TYPE is quite simply superb, with a gorgeous design and impressive performance in virtually every respect.  It's the perfect blend of style and luxury in a thrill-a-minute ride."

Naranjo continues, "Don't let the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover fool you, it's gorgeous on the outside and lavishly appointed on the inside, yet positively capable off road.  With opulent features, timeless styling, and plenty of utility to handle the toughest terrains, it sits at the top of the Luxury SUV food chain."  

The new Jaguar F-TYPE represents a return to the company's heart: a two-seat, convertible sports car focused on performance, agility and driver involvement. This Jaguar is a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses some of the most beautiful, thrilling and desirable sports cars ever built. The 2014 F-TYPE combines low vehicle weight, high power and superb aerodynamics to achieve a pure sports car experience, yet with Jaguar elegance and luxury. The F-TYPE is powered respectively by the new Jaguar supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine in 340hp and 380hp outputs and a 495hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8. The F-TYPE Coupe goes on sale in spring, 2014.

The Fourth Generation Range Rover is the world's first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminum body, with a weight savings of 700lbs.  The Range Rover takes the capabilities of the brand's flagship to a new level, with even greater luxury and refinement, enhanced performance and handling on all terrains and significant advances in sustainability. The Range Rover was launched in October of 2012 to acclaim, receiving over 20 awards and accolades globally to date.

TMW - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at The Motoring World.

As 2013 draws to a close, we can look back on a number of huge stories in the motoring world, The Jaguar F-Type, Corvette Stingray, Viper, the continued dominance of the VAG group and the unsteady state of Peugeot Citroen and the return of DATSUN.

SAAB has made a return, MG continues to fail in the UK, the Chinese have proved they can build great cars, along with a new brand Qoros, the new MkIII MINI, Golf MkVII, FIAT's continued takeover of Chrysler along with the stunning Alfa 4C.

Just a tiny amount of news and its only just the start, 2014 is looking like a massive year for the automotive world, we should get first looks at at least three brand new cars from Jaguar Land Rover, BMW's hybrid sports car the i8, The Bentley SUV, New Lambo SUV, and a number of exciting developments from Mercedes, AUDI, Lotus, Citroen and Nissan, again, just a tiny hint of what is to come.

So, from The Motoring World, thank you for taking a few minutes of your valuable time to have a read of my blog, and all things motoring, and please where ever you are, who ever you are, and what ever you do, thank you and have a great Christmas Holiday and I wish you all a great 2014.

Jon Mower

Jaguar Land Rover delivers strong retail performance in November

• Jaguar Land Rover delivers strong November sales performance retailing 37,403 vehicles, up 25%
• Jaguar sells 6,244 vehicles in November, up 55%
• Land Rover sells 31,159 vehicles in November, up 20%
• Calendar year to date Jaguar Land Rover sells 384,339 vehicles, up 19%

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles continues its sales success with a strong November performance, retailing 37,403 vehicles in the month, up 25% versus the same period last year. During the first eleven months of the year, Jaguar Land Rover sold 384,339 vehicles, up 19%.

Sustained sales growth continues for Jaguar Land Rover with increases in: the China Region up 42%, North America up 37%, Asia Pacific up 32%, Europe up 7%, other overseas markets up 42%, with UK sales consistent with the previous year. Sales for the first eleven months of the year were up in all major regions with Asia Pacific up 30%, the China Region up 28%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6% and other overseas markets up 23%.

Commenting on the November performance Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “November has been another solid month in what has so far, been a great year for Jaguar Land Rover. Our continued sales success is a testament to our sustained investment in new and exciting products which are driving growth internationally and attracting new customers to our brands”.

Jaguar

In November, Jaguar sold 6,244 vehicles up 55% reflecting particularly strong demand for the XJ and all XF derivatives, up 62% and 39% respectively. Jaguar demonstrated significant growth in the China Region, with North America up 105%, Asia Pacific up 62%, Europe up 5%, other overseas markets up 16%, The UK was down 5% as the registration year comes to an end.

Calendar year to date, Jaguar sold 69,655 vehicles up 42% with increases in each major region: the China Region up 144%, North America up 44%, Asia Pacific up 30%, the UK up 17%, Europe up 17% and other overseas markets up 31%.

Land Rover

In November, Land Rover sold 31,159 vehicles, up 20% with strong performances from all models in the range: Defender up 27% and Range Rover Evoque up 10%. Range Rover and Range Rover Sport continue to sell well across all markets. Land Rover demonstrated growth in all major regions: North America up 25%, Asia Pacific up 25%, China Region up 27%, the UK showed an improvement, Europe up 7% and other overseas markets up 45%.

Calendar year to date, Land Rover sold 314,684 vehicles up 14% with increases in all major regions: Asia Pacific up 31%, North America up 15%, UK up 13%, China Region  up 14%, Europe up 4% and other overseas markets up 22%.

REPORT HERE

Jaguar Land Rover parent says company is 'safe in our hands'

The owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has vowed that quality and brand values will not be compromised by its overseas expansion plans – and vowed to support the business for decades.

Last week, JLR announced it will open a manufacturing plant in Brazil in a £240m investment, with the first cars expected to roll off the production line by 2016.

This will follow the opening of a joint venture investment worth £1.5bn in China, with Chinese carmaker Chery, due to open in 2015.

Although JLR has not revealed what models will be produced in China and Brazil, Halewood’s popular Range Rover Evoque, which has taken the global market by storm since its launch more than two years ago, will be an obvious contender.

Roger Maddison, chief car industry negotiator for Unite the Union, said he sees no threat to UK jobs from the two proposed international plants.

But concerns have been raised about what impact they could have on the renowned British design qualities of JLR models, and the supreme quality of manufacturing at a company that prides itself on the high standards of its three UK plants in the West Midlands and Knowsley’s Halewood.

However, in an interview at Tata’s global headquarters in Mumbai, Mr Mukund Govind Rajan allayed any fears of compromise on JLR's standards.

He is a member of Tata’s group executive council and also brand custodian and chief ethics officer for the global conglomerate.

He told the Liverpool Post: “In China, setting up shop, a lot has to do with local recruitment and the value of training.”

JLR recently completed  a three- month training programme for China's “first joiners” who were tutored at Halewood in quality standards and will pass on their skills to the rest of the Chinese workforce.

Mr Rajan added: “We have terrific practices in the company and translating this to new facilities is not much of an issue.

“The brand will not undergo any changes in these markets. JLR brands will remain.

“Customers across the world have an affinity to JLR brands and the last thing we need to do as an owner is disrupt that relationship.

“We don’t want to create any kind of trouble for these brands.”

Mr Rajan said Tata had been delighted with the performance of JLR since it bought the group from Ford for £1.15bn and injected a further £1.5bn in 2009 to ensure its survival during one of the worst downturns in the automotive sector in decades.

And he reassured the UK workforce that Tata will be the custodian of JLR for decades to come.

“We have been delighted with the way the company and employees responded to the challenges at JLR,” he said.

“It is not about how do we save cash and cut back. It is about what do we do to build the business in the next 50 years. We don’t enter businesses easily, but when we do we are in it for the long term.

“We are not an aggressive, acquisitive entity, firing management and stripping assets and moving on. We build in the long term.”

When Tata bought JLR,  it also acquired Corus Steel in the UK and Mr Rajan admitted that there was a perception among Indian commentators and market analysts that the JLR deal was the “dodgier” of the two, but he said: “On current form,  JLR is turning out to be one of our outstanding successes.

“We work with the unions and the community and with JLR we have been very lucky and fortunate.

“There is a fair amount of satisfaction that a lot of growth has been seen and perhaps it has surprised the company, particularly the growth in China.

“But when we went in, this company had tradition and a legacy and a very interesting product pipeline and smart managers.

“We committed capital to ensure that pipeline was delivered and we needed leadership that was willing to give people the space to pursue their dreams.

“JLR meant a lot to the Tata group and they have a lot of time for the company and the new owners that inspired the managers.

“They knew we were watching and waiting for their success. It says a lot about the quality of the people we have there.”

REPORT HERE

F-TYPE Coupé exclusively previewed at the event in advance of its official UK launch in February 2014

• F-TYPE Coupé exclusively previewed at the event in advance of its official UK launch in February 2014
• Andy Murray named winner of “jump off the sofa moment” and most inspirational sporting performance of the year, Sir Steve Redgrave wins Patrons Award for Sporting Legacy and Olympians of the future also awarded on the night
• Event held at the Royal Opera House, London and hosted by British radio and TV presenter George Lamb and Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham

The all-new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé has been exclusively previewed at the Jaguar Academy of Sport Annual Awards ahead of its official UK launch in February next year.

The new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé was admired on the red carpet by British stars from the world of sport including Chris Froome, Sir David Brailsford, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Lewis and Adam Gemili.

Sir Dave Brailsford, Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador said: “I’ve always had a fantastic experience with Jaguar, and the support they provide to Team Sky is totally invaluable. The F-TYPE Coupé looks incredible here on the red carpet tonight.”

The awards themselves saw Andy Murray receive two new titles including “jump off the sofa moment” winner and most inspirational sporting performance of the year for winning Wimbledon 2013 – the first British male to do so since 1936.

Murray, who is also the hot favourite for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year, was unable to attend the event to collect his award as he is currently training in Miami in preparation for the Australian Open, but he sent a video message saying “it was a big honour to win the award as a lot of hard work went into achieving my goals at Wimbledon.”

Also winning on the night was British sporting legend and Academy Patron Sir Steve Redgrave who picked up the Jaguar Academy of Sport Patrons Award for Sporting Legacy for his contribution to the British sporting landscape. Sir Steve was presented his award by one of the most influential figures in this area, Sir Keith Mills.

Sir Steve Redgrave, Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron said: “It’s not only an honour to receive this award but also to be part of the Jaguar Academy of Sport. The Rising Stars are such an inspiration!”

The Jaguar Academy of Sport supports 50 Rising Stars each year with a Bursary Fund and Mentoring and Education Programme delivered by Kelly Holmes Education. Last night, five of those 50 Rising Stars were provided with Special Recognition Awards due to their outstanding achievements and interaction with the Academy over the past year. Those individuals were disability thrower Scott Thor Jones, rower Jess Leyden, taekwondo player Asia Bailey, gymnast Tyesha Mattis and wheelchair tennis player Esperanza Merry.

In 2010, Jade Jones was named the Jaguar Academy of Sport Star of the Future and went onto win Olympic gold in 2012. This year, young rower Jess Leyden has picked up the award for some outstanding performances including taking gold at the openweight women’s singles championship at the Junior Worlds and being 1st in the World Rankings 2013.

Jess Leyden, Jaguar Academy of Sport Star of the Future said: “I’m so thrilled to have won this award, it’s completely unexpected and a fantastic end to 2013, a year in which I’ve enjoyed great success on the water. The support from Jaguar has been invaluable and I have benefited from all the workshops, especially the one at Eton Dorney where I was able to take on advice from Katherine Grainger.”

Jaguar Land Rover to build plant in Brazil, the first British car maker to do so.

• Agreement signed with the State of Rio de Janeiro to build a Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility
• Jaguar Land Rover will invest R$750m (£240m) in the programme
• Plant will have an annual production capacity of 24,000 vehicles
• Plant will initially employ 400 people, generating additional jobs in the supply chain
• First vehicles to come off the assembly line in 2016

Jaguar Land Rover is to become the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in Brazil following a landmark agreement between the company and state authorities to build a plant in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

An agreement paving the way for construction of the plant has been signed by Phil Hodgkinson, Global Business Expansion Director of Jaguar Land Rover, and Sergio Cabral, State Governor of Rio de Janeiro.

Jaguar Land Rover’s planned expansion into Brazil is the next major step in the company’s strategy to increase its global manufacturing footprint and create additional capacity. This new facility will play an important role in supporting the significant growth opportunity identified in Brazil and across other South American markets.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Brazil and the surrounding regions are very important. Customers there have an increasing appetite for highly capable premium products.

“This new programme will enable us to bring exciting new vehicles to them, with outstanding British design and engineering, creating a world-class Jaguar Land Rover facility incorporating leading premium manufacturing technologies.

“We have established excellent working relationships with the State of Rio de Janeiro, the City of Itatiaia & the Rio de Janeiro State Industrial Development Company and we look forward to attracting new customers to our business in this important market.”

Based in the City of Itatiaia, the new programme represents a total investment of R$750m (£240m) by 2020.

Construction of the premium manufacturing facility will commence in mid-2014. It is anticipated that the first vehicles will come off the assembly line in 2016, subject to the final approval of the plans from the Brazilian Federal Government under its Inovar-auto Programme. The new plant will have a capacity to build 24,000 vehicles annually for the Brazilian market.

Initially, the plant will employ almost 400 people. This number is expected to almost double by the end of the decade. This new manufacturing facility will also create additional jobs across the local supply chain network.

Following a detailed feasibility study, Jaguar Land Rover selected the City of Itatiaia, close to the heart of the emerging Regional Automotive Zone, due to its excellent logistics links, access to the local supplier base and skilled workforce.

Sergio Cabral, Governor of Rio de Janeiro State commented: "The choice of Rio de Janeiro to host the Jaguar Land Rover’s new facility is another historic achievement for our state. We offer perfect conditions to JLR to install its plant in Brazil, as we have an automotive hub in the South Fluminense region that concentrates qualified labour and important suppliers.

It is a privilege to welcome this great group, with an estimated investment of up to R$750 million and we are confident that this agreement will bring to Brazil extraordinary results."

Jaguar Land Rover in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover has had a presence in the Brazilian market for more than 20 years. Its national sales company is based in Sao Paulo, employing almost 100 people. There are currently 35 dealers across Brazil with further expansion planned in the next year.

So far in 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sales in Brazil have increased by more than 40% to 9,549 vehicles over the 10 month period. The best-selling models in Brazil are Range Rover Evoque, Freelander and Discovery.

TMW - Its that time of the month again - UK November sales

JAGUAR

NOVEMBER 2012 1071 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 1017 sales -5.04%

YTD 2012 13055 sales - YTD 2013 15217 sales +16.56%

LAND ROVER

NOVEMBER 2012 3782 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 3806 sales +0.63%
YTD 2012 46094 sales - YTD 2013 51687 sales +8.87%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

NOVEMBER 2012 9704 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 10307 sales +6.21%
YTD 2012 117355 sales - YTD 2013 124113 sales +5.76%

MERCEDES

NOVEMBER 2012 6671 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 7867 sales +17.93%
YTD 2012 86594 sales - YTD 2013 102837 sales +18.76%

LEXUS

NOVEMBER 2012 443 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 616 sales +39.05%
YTD 2012 8014 sales - YTD 2013 8385 sales +4.63%

AUDI

NOVEMBER 2012 8214 sales - NOVEMBER 2013 9617 sales +17.08%
YTD 2012 118836 sales - YTD 2013 134598 sales +13.26%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +10.75%

CITROEN +6.83%

DACIA +100.00%

FIAT +18.16%

FORD +9.43%

HONDA +2.78%
HYUNDAI +4.99%
KIA +8.87%

LOTUS +56.91%
MAZDA +16.24%

MASERATI +2.71%
MIA +100.00%
MINI +2.34% 

MITSUBISHI +42.43%

NISSAN +11.60%

PEUGEOT +4.72%

PORSCHE +3.40%
RENAULT +10.19%

SEAT +15.85%
SKODA +20.62% 

SUBARU +6.73%
SUZUKI +32.10%
TOYOTA +3.97%
VAUXHALL +10.26%

VOLKSWAGEN +3.99%

VOLVO +1.27%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -22.82%

ASTON MARTIN -2.30%

BENTLEY -2.36%

CHEVROLET -13.49%

CHRYSLER -22.89%

INFINITI -25.20%

JEEP -6.72%

MG -44.27%

PERODUA -47.97%

PROTON -90.34%

SAAB -98.71%

SMART -1.80%

SSANGYONG -22.47%

Another great month with a near 10,000 increase on the month and 191,000 so far for the year, and with less than a month to go before we get the full year sales, it is already looking like being a great one, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Vauxhall and Dacia are definitely the ones that have had a great year, and with Skoda and SEAT already surpassing 2012 sales, both of which were records then, it seems the UK's love of nice new metal on the drive is not going to change any time soon.

As you can clearly see, the top five sales successes in November are also the same as for the year to date, Vauxhall is really turning a corner in the UK after years of losses and sales declines, the amazing offers and lifetime warranty combined with 0% finance is really tempting buyers, will the announcement that Chevrolet, its US sister brand, will pull out of Eastern Europe from 2015, see a change to these offers, I cant see that happening as it is working so well, the ageing Corsa, which is due for imminent replacement is still outselling far newer and cheaper cars.

Chevy have so far sold just over 11,000 cars in the UK this year, a figure they will not repeat, as buyers will leave the brand to go elsewhere, which is where Vauxhall could wring their hands with glee, MG on the other hand, what is happening there, a supposed new car with major advertising across TV, Press and online media, and they sell 75, really, why bother, the MG fan-boys get quite agitated when anything negative is said, but when the truth is told it is bound to hurt.

Jaguar is having an off month with sales slightly lower in November but YTD sales are still way above last year, and in the US a sales figure in excess of 100% increase on the same month last year, with no new products due (F-Type Coupe has been launched but not as yet available), Jaguar will hope to carry on good sales until teh new XS, XF and XJ along with the Q-Type from 2015, and teh new four cylinder engines from Wolverhampton from late 2014/early 2015, Land Rover continues to improve, and like Jaguar have little imminant, 2015 will be another big year for the LR brand with a significant amount of new products being launched.