The 2010 LR4 HSE is at your Madison dealer and it really is a good buy if you crave this luxury SUV!  Let’s take a look at some of the luxurious features.

The LR4 has that classic Land Rover look to it, even though it has been updated on the exterior front (no pun intended!)  The front grille is new and the LED lights are a modern design.  Some new paint colors are available and it has 19- and 20-inch wheel designs.  A side view of the LR4 HSE shows a longer SUV with a slightly raised back end.  I like this new look!

The engine of the LR4 is one of the biggest changes!  It is a very powerful V8 5.0 L that delivers 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque.  Awesome!  Also, it is reported that the fuel economy isn’t affected with the increased power.  Don’t let that fool you into thinking that this new SUV, found at your Madison used car dealership, has good gas mileage.  It is a heavy-duty SUV after all!!

Inside the vehicle, there is a lot to say!  It is really nice with plenty of modern features.  The gadgets, found on the center console, have been redesigned to make their placement more user-friendly to the driver.  For example, the Terrain Response System has been moved and is now next to the shifter.  The seating is also very comfortable and there is plenty of it!  Perfect for long journeys: enough room for people and cargo makes for a happy trip!

As for the off road ability of the 2010 LR4, that is totally up to you. I am not sure if I would feel comfortable taking my $50K SUV on roads that are not nicely paved.  But, you can if you want to.  The LR4 has that handy Terrain Response System, that allows you to adjust the power, depending what type of surface you are driving on.  There is now a “sand” mode: perfect if you want to cruise the beach!

Check out this great SUV at your Madison dealer.  They’ll let you test drive one to see if this is the SUV for you!

Land Rovers have been around for many years.  As you see the most current models at your Madison dealer, sometimes it’s kind of cool to see how these SUV’s evolved.

Back in 1947,  Maurice Wilkes was the technical director for Rover Cars, as it was called at the time.  He felt that there was need and desire from the general public for a type of military/utilitarian 4X4.   So, about a year later in 1948, the first Land Rover was born.  It debuted at the Amsterdam Motor Show.

This Madison new car was manufactured with aluminum that was left over from planes used in the war.  Wow, things do come full circle, since the Land Rover/Jaguar company is going back to using aluminum in upcoming models. It also featured four wheel drive and a lightweight chassis.

10 years later, when my parents were young children, an updated Land Rover came out.  It drove a bit smoother, but still very durable.  This model was highly sought all over the world, as orders came in bundles from 70 countries!  This LR had a 2.25 litre petrol engine.  Thus, a world wide brand name began!

As popular as the Land Rover was, the automaker wanted to create a more comfortable SUV.  In response,  Range Rover was born.  It had many desirable characteristics such as a V8 engine with 3.5 L,  Disc brakes and a self-leveling suspension. This RR went on sale at your Madison dealer starting in 1970.

Over the past 30 years or so, Land Rover/Range Rover models have been updated.  In 1981, a four door model came out.  In 1992, many technical advances were made on this auto.  Anti-lock brakes and air-bag suspension joined the line-up of safety features.  The Range Rover II came out in 1994.  It’s evident that many different model options have come and gone at your local store.

Land Rover and Range Rover SUV’s are worth the time to check out.  They have amazing on and off-road capabilities, are durable, and have luxurious interiors.  These Madison new cars are available at your local dealer.  Take a trip there soon!

Madison dealer patrons beware: a very, very fast new Jaguar will be coming soon.  The 2011 Jaguar XKR is one wild ride!  It will be on display this month at the Geneva Motor Show.  There is clearly a lot to say about this coupe.

This Madison new car comes with several different packages.  These options further enhance styling and performance for driver who’s lucky enough to own an XKR.  The Speed and Black Packages will allow the owner to make the Jaguar “their own”.   The Speed option has quite a lot of choices.  First of all, several colors for the body include Salsa Red, Lunar Gray, and Spectrum Blue, just to name a few.  Some other bells and whistles this package offers are upper and lower mesh grilles, rear diffuser, and chrome finishes to the window surrounds.  Perhaps the most exciting part of this option is it’s ability to increase speed to 174 mph.  

What does the Black Package offer?  Well, if you decide to go this route, your Madison new car will be lined with Charcoal leather hides.  They can be stitched with a range of different colors.  Sounds pretty sweet to me.  20 inch alloy wheels by Kalimnos are a part of your Jag with the Black package.  Other styling characteristics are body colored front and rear spoilers, boot lid finisher, and the XKR logo on the door sills.  Basically, the Black package is more of a styling addition to the other amenities that come with the Speed Pack.

Reports state that the 2011 XKR will have quite a few of the same great features that the newest Jaguar 2010 XKR at your Madison dealer has.  The engine will be a 5.0 L, v8 and it will be able to go from 0 to 60 in just under 5 seconds!  It will have a beautiful interior and a great audio system. 

The 2011 XKR sounds like a great car, and it can be even better and faster if you choose the Speed or Black Packs.  Once this auto comes to your local showroom, take a test drive!

Well, as for how things are going, it’s early, but it would seem The Big 3 are on the rebound in 2010 as showcased at auto shows like Detroit and Chicago.  And, in the collector’s realm of the car buying galaxy, if you happened to be at a Gooding and Company auction in Scottsdale in late January, why, you might just be under the impression that “recession” is something they only talk about in Propecia commercials these days.

But seriously, there at the Gooding and Company auction, a 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer brought in $3.74 million.  This is the car that won the Le Mans from ’55-’57, the car that essentially solidified Jaguar as a hybrid in the classic sense of performance and aesthetics.  With its muscular yet sleek body and aerodynamic nose, it is one of the most beloved cars of all-time, and its price in Scottsdale certainly reflects that.  In fact, the ’56 Jaguar was one of 3 cars at the auction to top 1 million dollars, the others being a 1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe (1.815) and a 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer (1.1).

At first the recent events in Scottsdale might not appear to be very useful for telling us what’s going on with the average car buyer surveying his Madison used cars lot.  For one, those auctioned cars exceeding the 1 million dollar mark may never pull up alongside that average car buyer at a red light on Main Street or into Joe’s auto garage, let alone sniff the tar bubbles of America’s roadways; but what is significant here is that cars, both at Midwest auto shows and in an internationally recognized auction house in Scottsdale, at least seem to be capturing the public’s imagination again after some dark years.  They are a commodity worth spending on.  Yes, from all accounts it would seem the automobile is revving back up again.  And that would certainly indicate that both auction houses and your local Madison dealer should expect bright days ahead.

A partnership has been renewed.  What great information to hear and it involves Jaguar, Land Rover, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL).  The car brands have been doing business with each other since the early 1980′s.  WWL is responsible for shipping Jaguars and Land Rovers overseas from Southampton in the UK to North America and other countries.  Thus, you can thank them for the beautiful XK or Land Rover Sport waiting for you at your Madison dealer.

In 2010 WWL will ship around 45,000 Jaguar and Land Rover models across the Atlantic to several ports.  These include Baltimore, Brunswick, Port Hueneme in the United States; Halifax in Canada and Fremantle, Melbourne and Port Kembla in Australia; and Auckland in New Zealand.  Both companies will be working together to make sure their policies are in tune with lessening any negative impact on the environment.

It’s kind of cool to see where your new and used cars Madison come from.  Now that we’ve moved across the ocean from port to port, let’s see what’s on tap at  your Madison dealer.

Currently, there are many new models for sale.  For example, you have the 2010 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury model.  It is a beautiful luxury car with many great amenities.  It features a 5.0 L, V8 engine and an automatic transmission.  Inside the car you will find a handy navigation system, rear cupholders (making those backseat drivers very happy!), and many great audio features.

If you’re in the market for something bigger, consider the 2010 Land Rover LR2.  It has a sportier design, along with some awesome off road capabilities if you’ve got that adventurous gene in you!   Powertrain wise, it offers 230 HP and four wheel drive.  The engine is a 3.2 L that gives 234 pound feet of torque.  Fuel economy wise, highway driving is around 22 mpg.  Obviously, it’s not as great as a used cars Madison sedan, but after all, SUV’s aren’t known for that!  Instead, it’ll offer a ton of passenger and cargo space that a smaller auto cannot.

Don’t forget to bring your Jaguar or LR in for their Madison oil change every 3,000 miles or so. Your auto will thank you!