Another Reason I Love Jaguar

During the recent Automotive News Europe Congress in England, Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO Ralf Speth gave a keynote presentation during which Mr. Speth said something rare and refreshing…

… down with hybrids.

Specifically, he said:

“Customers are not impressed with it currently. Battery technology today is still too heavy, too expensive and the [power] density is too low,” he told Automotive News Europe following his keynote speech at the event. “As we learned at school, there’s this correlation between mass and energy and as long as this is not favorable, even if you recuperate, this is an issue.”

Source – Europe.AutoNews.com

Finally!  Been saying this for years – hybrids are a lateral move.

My column below states why; try to defeat my argument.

Can’t, too much logic.

(original post here – October 15, 2013)

 

 

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Starting at $37,960
This one $48,850

2.0L outputting 141 hp and 129 lb.ft of torque.

Fuel economy rating is 4.2 L/100km, I got 6.9 L/100km.

Massive sunroof, woodgrain trim, and all the safety aids that are en vogue, bundled into a classy styling.

The wide-open interior is thanks to the E-shift.  See the buttons running down the left side of the screen? That’s Drive / Reverse / Park / Neat eh.

Here’s a video [from last year] – the push button shift in action.

When they climbed inside, this interior made all my passengers get wide-eyed and go “ooohhh“.

They did last year too, so if that’s the effect you’re looking for, confirmed: this Lincoln will give you that.

Lincoln has an event on right now, #UncoverLuxury

The gas and hybrid MKZ are the same price.

This is very rare (usually the hybrid version is thousands more.)

Comfortable, perforated leather seats, and soft-touch everywhere.

2 large executives will fit easily into the back, where the rear seats are heated too.

Now you see the controls, now you don’t.

Touch-controlled everything.

Too bad I didn’t notice the shadow on the door there, this was almost a good shot.

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Starting at $37,960
This one $48,850

 

 

Diesels are the New Hybrids

Today’s diesels are far different than when they first arrived in the 1970s, yet somehow the stigma has unfairly stuck.

If you’re looking for great fuel economy on a tough-as-nails engine, consider a diesel. Better re-sale value too.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Don’t take my word for it – ask a diesel owner, because they will sing its praises, and word-of-mouth is how you really know. 

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