Jaguar joins Bentley, Porsche using Monterey as launch platform for new vehicles

(July 2009) The Monterey, California Peninsula's Classic Car Week (August 9-16) that includes the Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, the Monterey Historics and the famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be the backdrop for introductions by three European brands, themselves historic in their own right.

Bentley, this year’s featured marque at the historic Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has confirmed that its all-new Bentley, in the Arnage class, will be revealed and named during the classic annual event that draws auto aficionados from around the world.

The Crewe, England based company, an arm of Volkswagen AG has just celebrated its 90th anniversary. Founded by W.O. Bentley in 1919, the company’s first production car, the 3-litre was delivered in September 1921. Over the next ten years, Bentley went on to produce an array of iconic motor cars. At the same time, the exploits of the immortal Bentley Boys – a select group of businessmen, sportsmen and bons vivants – forged the company’s proud sporting pedigree both on and off the racetracks of Europe. 

The Bentley Boys made the legendary Le Mans endurance race their own, winning five times between 1924 and 1930. 

According to Bentley the all-new grand Bentley to be introduced captures the ‘grand touring’ 1920’s spirit of the Bentley Boys that delivering the effortless driving, exclusivity and adventure desired among motoring enthusiasts. “A unique fusion of elegant design, hand craftsmanship and technological innovation, the new model embodies the potent yet luxuriously refined driving experience that is ‘pure Bentley’. These have been the hallmarks of a Bentley since that first test drive in 1920.” 

Bentley tells that it is fitting that the 90th anniversary of the Company will be marked by an all-new car. Such events are rare milestones in the Company’s history. Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, which has been home to Bentley Motors for over 60 years, it has been a ‘once in a career experience’ for many involved. The car and its name, which will be revealed on August 16, signal a new era in British luxury motoring.

At the same time Porsche (a kissing cousin to Volkswagen) will have the official introduction of its all-new highly anticipated Panamera four-door gran turismo. The eagerly awaited Panamera is the brand’s first-ever four-door sports car. Porsche notes the unique four-seater was conceived and designed as a grand touring car, combining numerous talents in typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a spacious interior, and the supreme comfort of a gran turismo.
"The exclusive automotive events that take place on the Monterey Peninsula this August are the perfect stage to roll out this extraordinary car," said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "Our Panamera will feel right at home among both vintage and modern classics and will make quite a splash among the tens of thousands of true automobile enthusiasts there."

The Panamera celebration also involves the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races where Porsche is the featured marque this year. This
will have special meaning to all those race drivers, teams, and fans of Porsche as one of the most famous vintage racing events in the world honors the most successful racing brand of all time. Porsche will bring to the event a number of significant and rare historic race cars, the Formula One and Two cars among them.

Jaguar now owned by Tata will make Monterey the center-point for the North American introduction of the all-new Ian Callum designed flagship XJ. Jaguar revealed the all new 2010 Jaguar XJ July 9 in London. The iconic XJ offers a seductive mix of striking design and robust performance made possible by Jaguar's aerospace-inspired light weight aluminum body technology. The all new Jaguar XJ will go on sale in December 2009, with a starting price of $72,500 MSRP.

Building on the success of the XK and XF, the new XJ is the third step in the revitalization of the Jaguar brand and redefines the world's perception of a large sports sedan. The new XJ will be available in both standard and long wheelbase models where rear-seat passengers will find an additional five inches of legroom.

The New XJ offers a modern reinterpretation of a number of key XJ design cues evident in how the strong, muscular lower half of the car contrasts with the slim and graceful quality of the roofline – a nod to the original 1968 XJ sedan.

The new XJ will be available in the US with a choice of three engines – a 5.0 liter 385hp naturally aspirated V8, 5.0 liter 470hp supercharged V8 and a 5.0 liter 510hp supercharged V8. In naturally-aspirated form, the XJ develops 380 lb.-ft. of torque. The supercharged versions develop 424 lb.-ft. and 461 lb.-ft. of torque, respectively.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         — Ted Biedermam