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Frank Sinatra's Cadillac, Steve McQueen's Chevy truck to cross the block at ‘Classic California' auction

Bonhams & Butterfields is having a star-studded auction this Saturday at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Lots of celebrity rides will cross the block at the event, which is being billed as a “Classic California” collection of cars, motorcycles and memorabilia. Here are some of the highlights: -- Actor/racer Steve McQueen's 1949 Chevrolet pickup will be offered for sale for the first time by his widow, Barbara Minty McQueen.

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Jaguar at Le Mans – the Cat returns

Jaguar returns to Le Mans for 2010 (click for bigger image) 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of Jaguar and a close look at the state of Jaguar after so long in the business of making cars sees it in better shape than at any time for the last forty years. The current range of cars – soon to be joined on the road by the new Jaguar XJ – is the best on offer for a generation, and there’s a new feel about Jaguar; confident; forward looking; innovative. Jaguar is quickly become a desirable marque once more, and the future plans for Jaguar seem set to cement that growing feeling.