Cars

Markets that will be offered the new AWD models, which are powered by Jaguar’s latest 3.0-litre V6 supercharged 340PS petrol engine, include continental Europe, North America, Russia and China but, because all-wheel-drive accounts for less than five per cent of the UK’s luxury saloon market, we won’t be getting them here. Jaguar believes that more than three-quarters of the AWD models produced at the Castle Bromwich factory in the UK from October will – at least in the early stages – be sold in the US, where demand for AWD is currently the highest in the world.

The reason for the party was to celebrate the North American premiere of the new Jaguar XJL Ultimate. But, despite numerous bunnies hopping around the luxury flagship, it was an ancient relative that snatched the limelight. Mad Men protagonist Don Draper summarised the starring 1963 E-type perfectly in an earlier episode of the retrospective series: “A man getting out of a Jaguar needs a cold shower…”

It might only be billed as a concept for now, but it’s likely that a good reception from the small pool of customers shown the prototype would ensure a production run. This would put the two-door, four-seat convertible in direct competition with the Phantom Drophead, also ensuring the continuation of a bloodline which includes the Corniche and, before that, the Park Ward S1 Drophead Coupé. The latter has apparently been used to influence the design process, as have ‘luxurious, high-performance power boats’, according to Bentley.

With its powerful 6.8-litre engine, the Model S Mercedes-Benz represented the very finest high-tech German engineering of the Twenties. This car was shown at the New York Auto Show in 1928. Bought new by Frederick Henry Bedford, it was placed into storage after his death and lay undisturbed for over 30 years. It was subsequently restored by the family. It is just one of seven such cars built by the stylish French coachbuilder, all different in small detailing.
 

Photos: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The black car looked ‘striking’, shall we say, with 1950s ‘Bat Car’ styling influences much in evidence.