Simply Abu Dhabi XXIV

2 5 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A hand crafted Jaguar was being built using the same methods as in 1957 – to my eye, I’m sure the left front guard was marginally higher than the right, which was often the case back then, which confirmed this as being not a replica, nor a restoration, but a genuine next-in-line car built after that fire. Although the new XKSS was just released at last month’s Los Angeles Motor Show, perhaps even more astonishing is that this isn’t the first Jaguar model to be built in the continuation series format. In May 2014, Jaguar announced a run of six lightweight E-type race cars to complement the original twelve cars which left the Browns Lane factory in 1963. This brought the total amount of genuine lightweight E-types to 18, the number that was originally intended. The company has applied the same logic to the new XKSS and it intends to build on the expertise gained during construction of the continuation E-types, which were all sold before production commenced. And if the six exquisite lightweight E-types produced last year are anything to go by, that $1.2 million price tag has to be something of a steal. It’s part of Jaguar’s move to tap into the trend for classic cars – and with other manufacturers like BMW and Rolls-Royce reproducing genuine, original parts for old cars, it’s an area they felt they could take a step further by bringing the car back in its entirety. Another example of Jaguar’s new found love of its history is its newly launched classic car driving experience in the Arctic Circle held at the company’s winter test facility in Arjeplog inNorthern Sweden. While most car companies now offer the chance to drive their new cars in icy conditions, this is considered a first for classic car enthusiasts. Specialist instructors provide customers with comprehensive tuition to enhance the once-in-a- lifetime experience of driving a classic Jaguar on ice without any modern aids like traction control or even power steering. Participants get to experience driving models from Jaguar’s golden age including early XJ saloons as well as MKII, MKVII and the classic XK150. I’m just waiting for the call up to test the ‘new’ XKSS on ice – although given the exclusivity of this new model, I’m not holding my breath for that press event.