Vintage Dash Panel Instrument / Map Light / Dash Plack / Cigerette Lighter on 2040-parts.com

New Jaguar XFR-S burns up the Goodwood hillclimb (video)

The new Jaguar XFR-S – the most powerful XF to date – has just launched and we have video of the XFR-S on the Goodwood Hillclimb. With an even more aggressive look than the XFR, the XFR-S gets 542bhp and 502lb/ft of torque, enough to move Jaguar’s appealing super saloon to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds. Until now all we’ve had are the XFR-S photos Jaguar delivered (together with a dynamic video too), but with this week seeing Goodwood starting the push for this year’s Festival of Speed with a press day, we have the XFR-S out playing on the hillclimb, and Shmee 150 managed to capture Jaguar’s new cat playing.

Ford Energi drivers use all-electric mode 60 percent of the time

Ford has noticed quite a few interesting things by researching how owners use their Ford plug-in hybrids. It appears that Ford owners are driving their hybrids in electric mode nearly 60 percent of the time, using their cars' 21 miles of gas-free all-electric range. This figure contrasts quite a bit with the 41 percent of all-electric drive time earlier in the year, demonstrating that winter driving patterns differ quite a bit from summer driving.

Opel / Vauxhall Astra revealed

New Vauxhall / Opel Astra revealed ahead of a launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September The Astra has been with us for 30 years, and this is the sixth generation to hit the showrooms. And it looks to be the best yet (as you would hope), with a cohesive style and loads of design cues taken from Vauxhall’s Insignia. This new Astra is built on the same platform as the much heralded Vauxhall Ampera (the Electric Car that will be the salvation of GM – once the technology is sorted) and as such offers a bigger wheelbase (up by 71mm) on a 4.4 meter (14′ 4″) body, with a wider track, which should make the Astra a better drive.