Jaguar Land Rover Stars in Monterey

The middle of August can only mean one thing in the automotive world – it’s time for the annual car lover’s pilgrimage to the Monterey Peninsula for the Rolex Motorsports Reunion and the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance. Once again, Jaguar and Land Rover were at the center of it all.

The week’s activities began Thursday night with the Annual Pebble Beach Kick‑Off Event sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover at the Beach and Tennis Club at the Lodge at Pebble Beach.

Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, greeted an estimated crowd of over 500 people and introduced John Edwards, Managing Director, Special Vehicle Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, who proudly unveiled the first three vehicles to come from the new Special Vehicle Operations division.

With the help of Ian Callum, the Director of Design, Jaguar, Edwards introduced the stunning prototype of the Jaguar Lightweight E‑Type and the U.S. production version of the F‑TYPE Project 7, the fastest and most sports oriented F‑TYPE produced to date.

Finally, Edwards called the 550HP Range Rover Sport SVR on to the stage. The 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR is the most dynamically focused Land Rover vehicle ever produced and will be the first Land Rover vehicle to wear the new high‑performance SVR badge.

The following day, Jaguar Land Rover headed to The Quail: A Motorsports Gather on Friday with product displays for both brands featuring some of Jaguar and Land Rover’s newest vehicles. Here Land Rover was also awarded a ‘Best of the Best’ award from Robb Report for the 2014 Range Rover Autobiography.

On Saturday and Sunday, Jaguar and Land Rover shifted their focus to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca where the annual festival of vintage motorsports takes place.

Placed on the Paddock side of three pit lane garages were the brand’s three break‑out stars for the automotive weekend– the Jaguar Lightweight E‑Type, the F‑TYPE Project 7 and the Range Rover Sport SVR. For three solid days, thousands of vintage race fans made their way to the Jaguar Land Rover display to see and inquire about the three distinctly different, but equally compelling vehicles.

Sunday also marked a day of triumph for Jaguar, as two significant Jaguar XK 120 vehicles took top honors in their respective classes at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the world’s most important and prestigious Concours.

JD Classics was awarded ‘Best in Class’ in the Post‑War Touring category for the 1951 Geneva Motor show Prototype Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe (FHC). This very significant Jaguar, which is the first left hand drive FHC and was the original Jaguar press car, has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration by JD Classics and was finished less than a week before the start of the event.

The second ‘Best in Class’ trophy for JD and Jaguar was awarded to the Jaguar XK120 Jabbeke speed record car in the Post‑War Sports Racing category. This unique Malcolm Sayer designed XK120 with its famous “bubble” canopy, also picked up the special Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy, which is presented to the most significant car at the Pebble Beach Concours that is of British origin, winning over some incredible Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar and Rolls‑Royce cars.

Once again, Jaguar legend Norman Dewis, the man who set the World Speed Record for a production car at 172.412 mph in 1953 in this very car, was at the wheel to receive the trophy on the Concours Stage, to warm applause from the huge Pebble Beach crowds.

From the reaction and comments of guests, enthusiasts and owners throughout the weekend, we’d say Jaguar and Land Rover were the stand‑out stars of Pebble Beach Automotive Weekend with the help of three exciting product debuts from Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Operations division. We look forward to seeing you all again next year on the Monterey Peninsula and don’t forget to follow Jaguar and Land Rover in the coming weeks for more exciting news from both brands.