Today at Goodwood: Jaguar Cars Open the Festival of Speed in Style
July 1, 2011, MAHWAH, N.J. ‑ Jaguar has celebrated the
50th Anniversary of the E‑type in style on the first day of the
2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
In glorious sunshine, examples of Jaguar cars from the past
and present took to the notorious Goodwood Hill, with the new
XKR‑S, XKR and XFR all in action. The XKR‑S, driven by Mike Cross,
Head of Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar Cars, proved a hit with the
estimated 48,000 strong crowds, making a dramatic run up the hill
as Mike demonstrated the capabilities of the vehicle with some
sideways antics.
Appropriately, a very special E‑type took to the Hill in the
form of the Group 44 race car, adding drama to the occasion through
a mix of its rapid pace and unsilenced exhausts. It was joined by
examples of the
D‑type, XJ13 and XK140 from the Jaguar Heritage
Collection.
Towering over the event was the sculpture of the E‑type
produced by artist Gerry Judah. Measuring 28‑metres in height and
weighing a substantial 150 tons, the sculpture provided a striking
centrepiece to Jaguar's sponsorship of the event.
Elsewhere, the dramatic C‑X75 concept was on static display
on the Jaguar stand alongside examples of every new Jaguar
currently on sale.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, now in its 19th year, has
proved a sustained success with the 2011 running of the event
expected to draw the biggest crowds yet with an estimated 180,000
people attending between Thursday, June 30 and Sunday, July
3.
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About Jaguar
From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars
in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world's premier
manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one
of the most recognized commercial brands. The company's vision is
simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world
over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United
Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community
work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.