Photo: Jaguar

Mercedes, Audi, and BMW continue to be the dominant global luxury car brands. Although Jaguar is still regarded as another luxury car maker, it holds a far less market share compared to the other big 3.

Jaguar is getting close to premiering the luxury car brand’s first two-seat Jaguar roadster since the E-type. This sportscar named the F-type follows the iconic and successful E-type which was the first brand launch since the forgettable X-type more than ten years ago.

The base engine of the F-type is a brand new, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that Jaguar developed from its traditional 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The new engine will offer about 340 hp.

A low deck lid plus sliver-thin LED taillights enhance the sensual beauty of this new Jag. Once you get your speed up 60 mph, a spoiler deploys.

Photo: Jaguar

We noticed one element that’s missing is the trademark rotary shifter. It’s been replaced by standard automatic shifter which should allow the driver to change gears manually.

The Jaguar F-Type dashboard will feature analog gauges plus toggle switches that remind the driver of classic sports cars from the past. This look is a switch from Jaguar’s more typical design of high-tech controls.

It’s expected that the new 2014 F-type will likely be priced starting at $70,000

Only time will tell how this new Jaguar F-Type will do against the big luxury names – Mercedes, BMW and Audi but Jaguar tradition and ingenuity will definitely put up a good fight.

Corvette ZR1

Within the troubled walls of auto giant General Motors, a competition was brewing.

A couple of years ago, Chrysler’s Dodge division announced it’s 2008 V10 Viper would offer 600 horsepower for its base engine. That was a direct jab at Chevy’s Corvette ZO6 and a power struggle ensued in the muscle car arena.

G.M.’s engineers went to work and the result is another classic – the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

The new model surpasses the Dodge Viper by 38 more horsepower with an entry price of $105,000. That price is about $33,000 more expensive than the next-in-line Corvette ZO6 model and $15,000 higher than the Dodge Viper.

The Corvette ZO6 was considered one of the best values in outright car performance, and the ZO6 was the starting point for the new Corvette ZR1.

Besides the many feature upgrades, Chevy says the rise is better than the base Corvette, in additIon to offering better handling capabilities than the ZO6.

If you want one of these babies, you better move fast.  Only 1,800 ZR1’s are planned for the 2009 model year.  Each ZR1 will wear a vehical identification number specifically designed to enhance the car’s status as a future collectible.

For more information, go to official Corvette site