مجله خودرو ام وی ام

فولکس واگن در نمایشگاه خودروی پکن 2024 این هفته یک کانسپت EV جدید با زبان طراحی با هدف سلیقه چینی ها معرفی خواهد کرد.

VW ID.Code جدیدترین مدل از سری مدل های مفهومی و تولیدی در خانواده ID EV این خودروساز است، اما استایل آن یک تغییر بزرگ است. قسمت جلویی خمیده، عناصر نور افقی بلند، و چراغ‌های گوشه عمودی به این متقاطع چهره‌ای زیبا می‌دهد و قوس چرخ‌ها نسبت به مدل‌های ID قبلی مشخص‌تر هستند.

مفهوم ID.Code فولکس واگن

فولکس‌واگن در مورد مشخصات صحبت نکرد، اما اشاره کرد که ID.Code با در نظر گرفتن حالت‌های رانندگی دستی و حالت‌های رانندگی خودکار سطح 4 SAE طراحی شده است.

برخی از ویژگی های ظاهری ID.Code احتمالاً در خودروهای برقی فولکس واگن در بازار چین در آینده ظاهر خواهند شد. این خودروساز قصد دارد یک برند فرعی جدید به نام ID.UX را با پنج مدل در سال 2027 در چین راه اندازی کند. این خودروها جزو 16 خودروی برقی خانواده ID هستند که فولکس واگن قصد دارد تا سال 2030 در خط تولید جهانی خود داشته باشد. برنامه های فولکس واگن برای بازار چین نیز شامل پلاگین های هیبریدی جدید با بیش از 62 مایل برد الکتریکی (احتمالاً همانطور که در چرخه آزمایش محلی اندازه گیری شده است).

مفهوم ID.Code فولکس واگن

تمام مدل‌های تولیدی خانواده ID تاکنون از پلتفرم MEB استفاده کرده‌اند، اما فولکس‌واگن همچنین در حال توسعه معماری‌های جدید خودرویی مختص بازار چین است. این شرکت در حال برنامه‌ریزی چهار خودروی برقی مبتنی بر یکی از این پلت‌فرم‌ها به نام پلتفرم اصلی چین (CMP) تا سال 2026 است و همچنین با خودروساز چینی Xpeng برای پلتفرم‌های EV همکاری می‌کند. این مشارکت دو مدل را نیز تا سال 2026 تولید خواهد کرد.

در خارج از چین، فولکس‌واگن قصد دارد در چند سال آینده دو مدل ID کوچکتر و مقرون به صرفه‌تر را روانه بازار کند. اولین مورد، بر اساس مفهوم ID.2all، انتظار می رود در سال 2026 معرفی شود. پس از آن ID.1 کوچکتر و ارزان تر در سال 2027 عرضه خواهد شد.

Nissan just took the wraps off four different concept cars at the Beijing Auto Show, two of them being sedans, and the other two being SUVs. The four cars preview the design and styling of models Nissan is tailoring for the Chinese market, though we wouldn’t be too surprised to see elements of these concepts influence the design of Nissan vehicles sold elsewhere, too.

Nissan Epoch Concept

The first car Nissan revealed is the Epoch Concept, which is an electric sedan. Just like the rest of the cars here, details are thin. However, Nissan says that it pictures this Epoch Concept as a car for “suburban go-getters.” It features an AI-powered virtual personal assistant that Nissan says can recognize human emotions and respond to them. If we had to take a guess at its size, we’d peg it as Sentra-like in its proportions. The lighting stands out as a big element of its rather rounded-off design. It has a glass roof, intriguing wheel styling and flush door handles to enhance its aerodynamics.

Nissan Epic Concept

The Epic Concept is the second and last of these four that is fully electric. Nissan says it’s designed for “adventurous city couples who explore on weekends.” It houses a big suite of sensors and driving tech that Nissan says makes it autonomous for both city and highway driving. When you get to the campsite, Nissan says the car can function as a power source to power your various camping items. Again, lighting plays a major role in this concept’s design, as wild-looking LED strips are all over both the front and rear of the SUV. It has chunky fenders that hint at some light off-roading capabilities, and the tall rear end suggests it can carry plenty of gear for a couple people to take a long weekend camping trip. Its interior is living room-like with white seats and screens galore. There’s even a cute little dog that appears on the passenger-side screen, which would be one awesome personal assistant. Anyone riding in the back will enjoy a flat floor and some lovely lumbar cushions to stay comfy on long journeys.

Nissan Era Concept

Now we transition from fully-electric concepts to plug-in hybrids, as the Era Concept is a PHEV. Nissan says it’s meant for the young businessperson who treats their car as a second home. It features an E-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system alongside active air suspension to make those longer journeys more comfortable. Plus, Nissan says it’s equipped with the company’s extra-comfy Zero-Gravity seats. Its exterior design is mighty similar to the Epic Concept, though there are some tweaks here and there that differentiate the two such as raised roof rails, lighting changes and much more serious off-road tires on the Era. Good luck telling the interiors apart aside from the ambient lighting within.

Nissan Evo Concept

The last concept of the day is a sedan called the Evo Concept, and it’s also a plug-in hybrid. Unlike the SUVs that shared much of their design, this sedan doesn’t look like a carbon copy of the Epoch Concept. Nissan says it’s an ideal weekend getaway car for the family, though it doesn’t look particularly capacious to store lots of people and their luggage. One similarity between it and the Epoch is its AI virtual assistant. The Evo’s interior is simplistic with just a pair of screens and very few buttons, but it does feel light and airy in its design. Its exterior is the sportiest looking of them all here, too. It has a slick sportback design, and angular front with sharp creases aplenty. If this had an Altima badge on it, we wouldn’t be disappointed.

Greg has a 2013 Infiniti M37 that he is fond of, but the car is getting up there in age and he is ready to trade his four doors for a big coupe that is reliable and powerful. He has a lot of flexibility and a $60,000 budget, what car should he buy?

(Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.)

Here is the scenario.

I’m ready to give up my 2013 Infiniti M37. While I still love the car, the 4-door sedan has 102,000 miles and is starting to show its age. It was one of the best-kept secrets in the automotive world and I’d consider another if they were still made: good performance, comfort, looks (to my mind) inside and out, and less expensive to purchase and service than most of its peers. It was the perfect car when I was commuting 60 highway miles a day. Now I’m three miles away from the daily train ride into NYC and want something that will get my pulse racing on the weekends.

I’m looking for a reliable sports car that I can daily drive. Something bigger, roomier and more powerful than a Miata. Something without the ugly, go-fast dents that are found all over on just about every car made these days. It doesn’t have to be new; a low-mileage used car with modern safety features and at least a few creature comforts works. Either a stick or paddle shifters will do. I prefer a hard-top, but a sunroof would be nice. I tend to favor the German cars, and I don’t like the interiors on most American models. I would prefer a coupe, though I wouldnt totally rule out a nice sedan. I have a budget of up to $60,000

Quick Facts:

Budget: up to $60,000

Location: Norwalk, CT

Daily Driver: Sort of

Wants: Power, Reliability, Comfort

Doesn’t want: An American car

Expert 1: Tom McParland – Checks All The Boxes

The appeal of the Infintis from that generation was that they offered a healthy amount of power in both V6 and V8 versions in a relatively stress-free package. Unfortunately, Infiniti strayed away from that formula in favor of whatever it is they are doing now, but there are some wildcards on the market if you are willing to expand your net a bit.

Lexus crammed its excellent 5.0- liter V8 into a variety of models over the years, and while the Japanese brand’s performance offerings haven’t often made a direct challenge to the ///M or AMG cars, they did offer a compelling package of old school power with top-notch build quality.

As an upgrade to the M37, you may want to consider the Lexus RC-F, you will get a 470 horsepower V8 without any turbos or fussy stuff, and while you can likely find more power elsewhere, I doubt that this would be insufficient for your needs. The interior is modern enough, though a bit dated compared to some of the European choices. However, the RC-F should offer enough thrills for weekend driving, without having to worry about raiding your savings account for expensive repairs. Another benefit is you don’t see too many of these, and it can be nice to have something a bit different. Due to their rarity, you will likely need to source one from far away and have it shipped. This red one in Texas with under 9,000 miles is tempting, as is this white one from a private seller that is a little more convenient.

Expert 2 : Bradley Brownell – Neunelfer Über Alles

Oh, so you prefer German cars and you want a car that adds some verve to your life? There’s only one logical choice here, it absolutely has to be the Porsche 911. This definitely fits the bill, and it won’t drive like anything else on the market, used or new. The 996-generation 911 Turbo is the best bang-for-your-buck in the Porsche market right now, and they’re steadily marching up in value. The Turbo is definitely built more in the Grand Tourer direction, with a cushy full-leather interior and all-wheel drive, but it’s still an incredibly competent sporting machine.

This 2001 Turbo makes 415 ponies from a 3.6-liter flat six, and is possibly the most reliable thing Porsche has ever built. The Mezger engine slung out back is a gem of engineering and delivers an old-school boost punch when you mat the throttle. If you can stay out of boost, it’ll actually deliver pretty solid fuel mileage on the highway, too.

The 996 generation gets a lot of flack for its headlights, but I actually like them. The interior is definitely dated, designed 27 years ago, but there are plenty of things you can do to make it a little nicer. A modern CarPlay head unit goes a long way, in my opinion.

It’s admittedly at the top of your budget, but it brings a lot to the table, too. Go offer $60,000 for this one on eBay (asking $61,900) and never look back. It’ll treat you right, and you’ll have a blast. Plus you can tell people you drive a Porsche.

Expert 3: Collin Woodard – You Actually Want What You Don’t Want

Look, Greg, I hear what you’re saying. You don’t want an American car. On the other hand, everything else you’ve written makes it sound like you want an American car. Power? Reliability? Comfort? Buddy, you’re asking for a Dodge Challenger even if you don’t think you want a Dodge Challenger. Heck, much of the early engineering was borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, which is one of the German brands you like so much.

I know you don’t want to hear it, and maybe it’s because you’re worried your neighbors will judge you, but a Dodge Challenger would be perfect for you. Especially as a weekend car. If you really are hoping for a Miata but bigger, then I’m definitely wrong here, and you should probably go with Tom or Bradley’s suggestion, but a Hemi-powered Challenger is going to be a blast from the moment you start it up.

With a budget up to $60,000, you’ve basically got your pick of the lineup. If you’re worried about your car being too powerful, you can always go with some of the lesser Challengers, but here’s a 2015 Hellcat for just under $53,000. The RC-F makes plenty of power, but it certainly doesn’t make Hellcat power. Meanwhile, the Beetle doesn’t even have a V8. Come on, Greg. You know you want a Hellcat. It may feel wrong, but everything about it is so right.

Expert 4: Amber DaSilva – You Already Know What You Want

Greg, there’s a rare category of What Car Should You Buy shopper that I think you fall into: The buyer who’s already picked out a car, but wants others to arrive to the same conclusion independently to back them up. I know, you came here to ask what car you should buy, but let’s look at your wording here. You want something lightly used, comfortable, fast, and — perhaps most crucially to the argument — German.

Greg, get thee an M4. Better yet, get yourself an M4 Competition. You’ll have power in spades, all the German interior luxury you could want, and you’ll have it all for under $60,000. Here’s a solid option for you, but it’s far from the only one — you can find these cars within your price range all day long.

I know, I know, rear-wheel drive in Connecticut winters is scary. But, Greg, you got this. I drove an FR-S through years of Fairfield County snow, and I lived to tell the tale. If I could do it, so can you.

Speaking with the press at the media reveal of the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, the brand’s Global Operations Officer Bob Broderdorf said that he and the brand definitely see electrification playing a role in future performance trucks. He was also confident in Ram’s ability to make something along those lines. That’s not confirming that there’s a specific performance-focused truck that’s fully EV or range-extended in development, but Broderdorf wasn’t waffling with weak statements about ‘always considering future products’ or anything of that ilk.

He did note that if Ram does an electrified performance truck, it might be a little while. He pointed out that the brand still needs to get both the REV full-electric truck and the Ramcharger range-extended EV into production. So obviously, Ram has to focus on getting those more mainstream, volume products on the road and established.

It’s also easy to see how Ram’s electric powertrains could play into sporty trucks. The REV is rated at 654 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque from its dual motors, and has a claimed 0 to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, a couple tenths quicker than the RHO. The Ramcharger is very similar with 663 horsepower, but 615 pound-feet of torque, and the same 0 to 60 time as the REV. Arguably the power is there, Ram would mostly just need to either adjust the chassis either for street or off-road performance.

But again, as Broderdorf noted, Ram hasn’t even got its regular EVs out the door. So it’s more than reasonable that the company doesn’t have anything concrete about performance EVs yet. But it does sound like the company is optimistic about the idea, and we’re excited about that.

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هیئت منصفه هنوز در مورد اینکه آیا مزدا هرگز به جایگزینی 6 سدان سایز متوسط ​​خود خواهد رسید یا خیر، صحبت نمی کند، اما در چین، این خودروساز پیشنهاد جدیدی در این بخش دارد.

مزدا روز پنجشنبه از خودروی دیفرانسیل عقب EZ-6 در نمایشگاه خودرو پکن 2024 رونمایی کرد. این سدان خیره کننده توسعه مزدا و شریک چینی آن Changan Automobile است و قرار است تا قبل از پایان سال در چین به فروش برسد. فروش در سایر بازارها اعلام نشده است.

خریداران می‌توانند بین پیشرانه‌های پلاگین هیبریدی یا الکتریکی یکی را انتخاب کنند، که دومی تقسیم وزن ایده‌آل 50:50 جلو به عقب و برد 373 مایل را در چرخه آزمایشی مورد استفاده در چین ارائه می‌کند. اگر با استفاده از چرخه سختگیرانه EPA محاسبه شود، این رقم تا حدودی کمتر خواهد بود.

طول EZ-6 193.7 اینچ است که حدود 4.5 اینچ طولانی تر از مزدا 6 قبلی است. مزدا نگفته است که این خودرو از چه پلت فرمی استفاده می کند، اما رسانه های چینی گزارش دادند که EZ-6 یک پلت فرم مشترک با یک سدان چانگان به نام SL03. مزدا تایید کرده است که چانگان مسئول توسعه پیشرانه های EZ-6 و همچنین ویژگی های اتصال آن بوده است.

مزدا EZ-6 2025

نمای بیرونی و داخلی حاصل کار طراحان مزدا است. این خودروساز گفت که EZ-6 آخرین تکامل زبان طراحی Kodo خود را نشان می دهد.

کابین دارای طراحی نامرتب و معمولی مزداهای مدرن است. کنترل‌های فیزیکی محدود به نظر می‌رسند و طراحان از صفحه‌نمایش لمسی بزرگ با جهت‌گیری منظره مشابه آنچه در تسلا می‌بینید، ترجیح می‌دهند. همچنین می‌توان از کنترل ژست‌ها و کنترل صوتی استفاده کرد که این مورد حتی زمانی که راننده خارج از خودرو است، به عنوان مثال در حین مانورهای پارک از راه دور، کار می‌کند.

کانسپت مزدا آراتا

مزدا همچنین از نمایشگاه خودروی پکن برای معرفی کانسپت کراس اوور الکتریکی آراتا استفاده کرد. مزدا گفت این کانسپت به بررسی مضامین طراحی جدید برای خودروهای الکتریکی آینده با هدف مصرف کنندگان چینی می پردازد.

انتظار می‌رود یک نسخه تولیدی، بار دیگر با استفاده از فناوری EV از Changan، سال آینده در بازار چین عرضه شود.

Lotus is back, baby. After years plodding along making plucky British sports cars that promised high performance and low weight, the company has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese giant Geely, which is helping it forge ahead with its electric ambitions. Those ambitions seemingly include toppling every EV lap record out there with its latest creation, the 1,984 horsepower Evija X.

The track-going monster is based on the standard Lotus Evija, which was unveiled back in 2019 and is currently being assembled at the company’s home in Hethel, UK. That car packs in modern styling, a futuristic interior and an electric powertrain that kicks out enough oomph to power the car onto a 60 mph in a targeted sub-three seconds and onto a top speed of 217 mph.

Now, the Evija has been treated to a raft of updates and sent out to the world’s toughest race tracks in search of some lap records, and so far it’s claimed the third-quickest time around the formidable Nurbürgring, reports Autocar. According to the site:

The extreme track car was spotted lapping the Nordschleife last year, and Lotus has now confirmed that it achieved a lap time of 6min 24.047sec – 19sec behind the Volkswagen ID R.

Lotus claims the Evija X’s time is the fastest achieved by any car with a production chassis, though, and believes it has more to give, having set its unexpectedly quick lap time on a damp day in October.

Clearly, Lotus isn’t finished with the famed German track just yet, as it told Autocar to “watch this space” and teased ambitions to return and try and top the timing sheet for good.

In order to chase this record, Lotus has reportedly taken the stock Evija and tweaked it in a few important places. At its heart, it remains the same electric hypercar with its 1,984 HP powertrain, quad-motor array and 70kWh, 800-volt battery that’s mounted behind the seats.

The changes, then, are all on the outside with the bodywork optimized with one thing in mind: aerodynamics. As such, there’s an enormous carbon fiber wing to add downforce at the rear, and a race-style diffuser up front. The car is even equipped with an F1-style drag reduction system to increase its speed on the straights.

Other modifications include a set of Pirelli track tires at each corner, upgraded carbon brakes to improve stopping capabilities and the Evija X comes with new dampers, reports Autocar. The car’s bodywork is even left in its raw carbon state to cut its weight and increase speed.

So far, Lotus is adamant that this this monster is a one-off for the company’s engineers and drivers to play around with on some of the world’s most famous race tracks. As such, there’s no price for the untamed monsters.

However, as the standard Evija starts around $2 million and Lotus has mostly sold out of its limited 130-car run, I’d expect the asking price for one of these to be a tear-jerkingly high number.

مرسدس بنز در مراحل اولیه توسعه ون کلاس V بعدی خود است و یک قاطر آزمایشی نیز مشاهده شده است.

یک قاطر آزمایشی یک نمونه اولیه است که از یک بدنه موقت استفاده می کند که معمولاً از یک وسیله نقلیه موجود قرض گرفته شده است تا مکانیزم های جدید را پنهان کند. در این مورد مرسدس از بدنه اصلاح شده کلاس V فعلی استفاده کرده است.

این حس نسبت های وسیله نقلیه را به ما می دهد. به عنوان مثال، کلاس V بعدی عریض‌تر از کلاس فعلی خواهد بود، همانطور که با قوس چرخ‌های گشاد شده مشخص می‌شود. همچنین کمی طولانی تر خواهد بود.

بریدگی‌های دنده استتار برای سنسورهای مختلف، و همچنین سنسورهای پنهان روی درپوش آینه‌های جانبی، به ویژگی‌های پیشرفته خودکار کمک راننده اشاره می‌کنند. ممکن است یک نسخه پیشرفته‌تر از سیستم Drive Pilot مرسدس بنز وجود داشته باشد که در حال حاضر در سطح 3 در مقیاس SAE از قابلیت رانندگی خودران رتبه‌بندی شده است، زیرا به راننده امکان می‌دهد در شرایط خاص برای مدت کوتاهی از جاده نگاه کند.

Van.EA – بار و مسافر

این وسیله نقلیه بر اساس پلت فرم جدید EV اختصاصی مرسدس به Van.EA طراحی شده برای خودروهای تجاری سبک خواهد بود. پلت فرم Van.EA دارای طراحی سه ماژول است که به راحتی با اندازه های مختلف خودرو سازگار می شود. هر دو پیشرانه تک موتوره و دو موتوره برای کلاس V بعدی انتظار می رود.

به دنبال کلاس V بعدی باشید که در سال 2026 به عنوان مدل 2027، از جمله در بازار ایالات متحده، عرضه خواهد شد. مرسدس سال گذشته برنامه های خود را برای معرفی یک ون لوکس سایز متوسط ​​در ایالات متحده تایید کرد، خودرویی که تصور می شود کلاس V بعدی باشد.

کلاس V فعلی هرگز در ایالات متحده فروخته نشد، اما یک نسخه بی‌ارزش که عمدتاً خریداران تجاری را هدف قرار می‌داد، در اینجا به‌طور خلاصه به‌عنوان Metris فروخته شد. مرسدس همچنین ون Sprinter بزرگتر را در اینجا برای خریداران تجاری ارائه می دهد.

Mazda traveled to the biennial Beijing Motor Show to unveil two electrified cars. One is a production-bound sedan called EZ-6, and the other is a close-to-production concept named Arata that takes the form of a compact crossover and that’s also headed to Chinese showrooms.

An important distinction is that the EZ-6 wasn’t developed by Mazda; not quite. It was designed by Changan Mazda Automobile, which is a joint-venture between a Chinese government-owned manufacturer named Changan and the Japanese brand. Who did what during the development process hasn’t been clarified. Regardless, the EZ-6 looks like the logical successor to the 6, which left our market in 2021.

Designers gave the EZ-6 a more fluid interpretation of Mazda’s Soul of Motion design language. While still recognizable as a Mazda, the sedan looks more futuristic than the previous-generation 6 (which remains available in some global markets) thanks to sharper-looking headlights that stretch into a wide grille-like trim panel with LED illumination. Its door handles are integrated into the body, and the fastback-like silhouette flows into a tall, swept-back rear end with a speed-activated spoiler. We’d argue the EZ-6 looks far more upscale than the 6.

Mazda packed some interesting technology into the sedan. For example, the driver can control some functions by voice even when standing outside of the car. The list of orders that the EZ-6 responds to hasn’t been revealed. Inside, numerous features respond to voice and gesture controls. The brand hasn’t forgotten about handling, though. The EV has a 50-50 weight distribution, and both models were designed around the “Jinba-ittai” philosophy, which translates to “car and driver as one” in Japanese and famously characterized the original MX-5 Miata.

Technical details haven’t been announced yet, but Mazda says EZ-6 buyers will be able to choose between a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and an electric drivetrain. The model “combines Mazda’s strengths with Changan Automobile’s electrified technology,” company CEO Masahiro Moro explained, which suggests the drivetrain might not entirely come from Mazda’s research and development department. The electric EZ-6 will have a maximum driving range of approximately 372 miles (though surely less with U.S. ratings), while the plug-in hybrid version will benefit from up to 621 miles of range.

Rear-wheel-drive comes standard, which partly corroborates an earlier rumor. There’s no word on whether all-wheel-drive will be available later in the production run. At 194 inches long, 74 inches wide, and 58 inches tall, it’s ever-so-slightly longer, wider, and taller than the 6. 

Details about the Arata are more vague, presumably because it’s farther away from production; what you see in the gallery above isn’t exactly what’s headed to showrooms. Mazda simply noted that the concept crossover is “designed to appeal to the advanced, sophisticated taste of Chinese consumers” with a design that’s more futuristic than the EZ-6’s. It’s electrified to some degree (either electric or hybrid).

Mazda notes that the EZ-6 will go on sale in China before the end of 2024, while the Arata will spawn a production model at some point in 2025. It’s too early to tell whether either model will end up in American showrooms. We know that a lot of Mazda fans would love to see a new 6 (regardless of what it’s called), but would there be a market for it beyond the enthusiast pool? Perhaps, if Mazda can successfully market the sedan as a premium model and position it as an alternative to, say, the Audi A4. If it can’t pull that off, the EZ-6 is dead on arrival.

The price tag on today’s Nice Price or No Dice Jaguar is as suspicious as the extremely brief description in the ad. Let’s see if we can make whiskers or tails of this confounding cat.

According to Reddit, the bastion of barely informed hot takes, the least-deserving winner of the long-running CBS series Survivor was the purposefully clueless Jud “Fabio” Birza from 2010’s Survivor: Nicaragua. Per most of you, yesterday’s 2004 Chrysler 300M “survivor” could give Fabio a run for his money. In fact, it was money that proved the 300M’s downfall. Well, that and many of you complaining that it is generally a terrible car. At $8,995, terrible doesn’t really get much traction, and in the end, the survivor Chrysler couldn’t persevere in our poll, falling in a 74 percent No Dice loss.

While it’s not Friday yet, there does seem to be something a bit fishy about today’s 2017 Jaguar F-Type convertible. I mean, I’m not one to cast aspersions willy-nilly, but its price seems suspiciously low, and its description is alarmingly brief. Let’s dig in and see what there is to glean about this domesticated cat.

The F-Type is seemingly Jag’s last hurrah for internal combustion engine sports cars. Introduced a decade ago, the two-seater has been available since then in either closed coupe or open-top roadster bodystyles and, over the years, with three different engine sizes—offering a choice of four, six, or eight cylinders.

This one is the Goldilocks middle child V6, which in itself is a very oddball engine as it’s little more than the larger V8 with two cylinders lopped off. It shares the V8’s 90° bank angle but but with the bores downsized to cap out at 3.0-liters displacement. Despite its odd design, the supercharged engine is good for a solid 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. While a manual transmission and AWD have been made available on the car, this one rocks the ZF Eight-speed automatic and is solely rear-wheel-drive.

Per the ad’s extremely brief description, this is a

Very nice car in good condition, changed oil, filters , spark plugs , tires like new, drives perfectly.

It doesn’t look bad either. The Jag’s lithe lines suit the Caldera Red top coat well. The factory alloys help, too, and appear unscathed of any curb encounters. The tight-fitting cabin has leather and Alcantara seating surfaces and a cartoon bear air freshener that probably doesn’t offer much when the top is lowered. Everything here looks to be in decent condition, with no apparent rips, gouges, or tears. And yes, there are center air vents. They pop out of the top of the dash.

When we get under the hood, things start to get a little funky. The plastic beauty cover atop the engine has two odd areas of discoloration on either side. That could be just be the result of exhaust heat—the engine bay is even tighter than the cabin—or it could be a sign of some sort of leak. To be fair, there’s nothing other than that evidencing any prior mischief, and the seller does claim the car does drive “perfectly.”

Another issue of concern is the missing sassy cat badge in the grille. Was that removed due to an owner’s whim, or was it misplaced in an accident repair? Unfortunately, the car is offered on Facebook Marketplace, which doesn’t require including the VIN, so we can’t run a quick check to look up the car’s history. Most concerning, the ad also omits the car’s title status. Could this car be tainted by a salvage title?

That would go a long way in explaining the strangely low $16,800 asking price. Of course, that could also be explained by this car being a scam intended to lure eager deal-seekers in, only to have them wake up later in an ice water bath in a motel near the highway and missing a kidney. I’m not saying either scenario is true; I’m just asking the questions.

It’s now time for you to ask similar questions and, more importantly, vote on what you think the deal is with this Jaguar sports car and that $16,800 price tag. What’s your hot take on this enigma machine? Does that price seem like a reasonable roll of the dice to learn more about the car—at the very least? Or does that have you thinking that this Jag is a cat that could bite?

You decide!

Facebook Marketplace out of Maple Valley, Washington, or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to Bill Lyons for the hookup!

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