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Jaguar XJ Review (2012): 3.0 litre Diesel Portfolio LWB

We’ve had the latest version of the Jaguar XJ in for review – the LWB 3.0 litre Diesel Portfolio with Sports Packs – to see how the XJ is maturing. It’s getting on for two years since we had the first Jaguar XJ in for review, and almost three years since we first saw the new XJ at the Saatchi Gallery in London, almost a year before Jaguar managed to get their new range-topper in to showrooms. In between we had a long-term XJ in for review which was with us for four months and proved to be far more reliable than the early car we had in – which did have problems – and a car we covered most the UK in with almost nothing in the way of hiccups.

BMW X1 – first car in the wild!

The new BMW X1 on the road for the first time The X1 is designed to be a proper, compact SUV, aimed at a younger market, with less to spend, than most of BMW’s current offerings. Based on the 1 series platform, this shot seems to look exactly like the concept car (BMW X1 Concept gallery at the end). Not sure about the brown paint job, though.

Who's Where: Peter Arcadipane appointed BAIC's design director

Peter Arcadipane has joined BAIC as its new design director. Based at its new hi-tech design facility in Beijing, China, he oversees a team of around 130 designers. The Australian designer, formerly of Mercedes-Benz, has been challenged to steer state-owned BAIC towards a more coherent and strategic position within China, with its chairman wanting to take the carmaker more upmarket.