NEW YORK AUTO SHOW WRAP UP

The 2011 New York International Automobile Show was as big and brash as one would expect coming to the Big Apple. The exhibits were great, and the PR and media world turned out in full force to tell any one of a thousand "big city" stories. I went back to the show on Saturday for an interview with Spike TV and the show was packed with consumers. Overall; a very positive sign for our business, writes Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover, North America.

Here were some of the highlights for Jaguar Land Rover:

We celebrated our past with the 50th Anniversary of the Jaguar E‑Type which first debuted at the 1961 New York Auto Show. The display and drive‑away of 10 pristine E‑Types in front of the Jacob Javits Convention Center was a truly special moment, and the first time such an event, outside the show, has ever occurred. This historic moment would not have been possible without the support of the great teams at the New York International Automobile Show and The Jacob Javits Convention Center.

We also celebrated our future with the global reveal of the MY12 Jaguar XF and XK models (including the high performance XKR‑S) and also gave New Yorkers a look at the MY12 Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate. These vehicles all speak to the careful attention to detail and design that Jaguar Land Rover infuses into the interior and exterior of its products and the overall desirability of our brands.

From a Jaguar Land Rover Global management standpoint, the show was attended by the CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, Dr. Ralf Speth; Global Head of Communications, Frank Klaas; Jaguar Brand Director, Adrian Hallmark; Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum and Land Rover Global Product Marketing Director, Finbar McFall. Jaguar Land Rover North America also announced and welcomed a new President, Mr. Andy Goss.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ won the International Luxury Car of the Year by the ICOTY Jury and the MY12 Jaguar XKR Coupe was revealed by Ian Callum and special guest, Actress Megan Fox, at an out‑of‑show consumer event in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Jaguar E‑Type.

The Range Rover Evoque was shown to consumers in New York for the first time at a special event in the Meatpacking District, attended by multiple special guests including Tennis Star Serena Williams and our five NY City Shapers: Co‑Founder and Designer for Marchesa, Georgina Chapman; New York Jets Cornerback, Darrelle Revis; Socialite and Journalist, Bevy Smith; Founder of PSFK.com, Piers Fawkes, and Founder and Editor in Chief of Coolhunting.com, Josh Rubin.

Needless to say, both brands took quite a bite out of the Big Apple last week for the New York International Auto Show and the feedback we've received from our activities around the city and our new products has been incredible. It was a show to remember and a great success for both brands.
 

To view a video of our activities in New York, click here.