Jaguar Pusses Out Of Jalopnik Vs. GM Race

Jaguar PR just called saying they've withdrawn their pledge to let Wes race the XFR Thursday against GM's Bob Lutz in a Cadillac CTS-V. Apparently, not because they're afraid to lose, they're afraid the XFR just can't take it. Pussies.

It's true. Stuart Schorr, Jaguar's main product PR man, told us flat out he expected the XFR would lose to the CTS-V, so it's not that he's afraid to lose to "Maximum" Bob Lutz.

Instead, they're afraid the XFR can't handle the strain. Specifically, the brakes. Without better brake cooling, Schorr tells us his folks are concerned the XFR just can't put the necessary laps in without endangering the driver.

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dumpsty - 10/28/2009 4:39:18 PM

+2 Boost

OK, the XFR is really "track" ready for 5 hot laps to contest the CTS-V. Fine. But re-read the Jag PR rep's response. While he admits the brakes may not be entirely safe for the driver, he suggests that a race is not what makes a truly great luxury vehicle....and that's a very important point to make.

After you settle on the huge engine with gobbs of HP and torque to reach breakneck speeds. Has it been designed and built to provide the best amenities and quality for the consumer? The US is entrapped by the HP/torque wars in that the highest wins, and that's not a good measure of true luxury. A measure of luxury doesn't depend on the size of the vehicle or its engine, but the quality and craftsmanship of all those components that the customer feels, smells, hears, and sees.

When I sit in a new Benz or Jag, I get a different overall sense of luxury than sitting in a Cadillac. I feel coddled and embraced in a bit of opulence with a sea of tech goodies mixed with quality materials to make my ride every bit enjoyable whether I'm driving 70 mph or 27 mph. I don't get that in the Caddy....aside from nice center and driver instrument panels...and a bit of power....the true luxury is lost. Maybe the next Cadillac flagship will have that.

LuxuryFan - 10/28/2009 6:37:51 PM

0 Boost

This may sound juvenile, but Cadillac is quite gross.

Need4Speed - 10/29/2009 11:00:22 AM

+1 Boost

It would help to dispel any notion of juvenility if you were to explain your comment in more detail. I’ll start by asking what exactly is “gross” about Cadillac? ...you could also compare and contrast against other manufacturers to try to further validate your point.

Shredmo - 10/29/2009 11:34:48 AM

+1 Boost

My guess is Luxuryfan is a Euro who has never seen a Caddy in person. I don't understand people who are "car fans", but are pre-prejudice on certain makes. ...or maybe I am not cultured enough to be a snob.

tango - 10/29/2009 3:03:39 AM

+2 Boost

There is no finer value-for-money sport sedan than the CTS-V. A friend of mine who is a die hard BMW fan and who previously despised any and everything built in the US, has recently declared that as soon as he is able he will be buying a CTS-V. And before I get the nay-sayers, he currently drives a BMW 540i and regularly drives a BMW M5. So he knows what he's getting into...or out of...depending on how you look at it. To the Jaguar guys...remember this...once upon a time the very epitome of Jaguarness was to race on Sunday, sell on Monday. It seems these days it's sell on Friday, upgrade on Saturday, race on Sunday, then shelve on Monday, before the public realises what happened.

thstone - 10/29/2009 7:07:42 PM

0 Boost

I like Bob Lutz and I like what he's trying to do, but it ain't gonna change the mind of very many people. You can't fix 40 years of crap cars by producing one good model.

I mean, what else does Caddy have to offer besides the CTS/V? Where is their 3-series figher and their E or 7-series fighter and their X5M?

Right now Caddy is nothing more than a one-trick pony and Lutz is going to the whip for all she's worth.