Jaguar is enjoying its umpteenth renaissance, this time under the ownership of India’s Tata Group, and is working hard to recast its image in a new mould, with a contemporary design language that definitely breaks with the traditional Jaguar look. Recently, its new man at the top, Carl-Peter Forster, had some glowing words about its potential and future models.

Alfa Romeo, missing from American sales charts since 1995, this year celebrates a century of existence. Management says it’s keen to return to the USA, and Detroit’s authoritative Automotive News suggests 2012 is the year.

 

The Italian marque is also enjoying something of a renaissance under parent company FIAT, with a new corporate and model structure recently announced, and push to eschew designs for future models from external design houses, instead encouraging new styling themes to be developed in-house by Centro Stile.

 

 

So what do the Alfa Romeo and Jaguar displays at Pebble Beach tell us about the past, and the future of these long established brands? The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the associated events which surround it, are as famous for fashion, style and design trends as camshafts, pistons and power. Alfa Romeo chose to bring seven of its most iconic models from its museum in Milano, and displayed these automotive treasures on the famous 18th fairway at Pebble Beach. Elsewhere there were many more famous Alfa Romeo classics at events like Concorso Italiano, McCall’s Motorworks Revival and The Quail - A Motorsports Gathering. What was missing from Monterey was a taste of what Americans can expect from Alfa Romeo in the immediate futre. Its current models are ageing and the company promises a clutch of exciting new designs to emanate from Arese, and be brought to the USA in 2012. We can hardly wait.

 

On the other hand, Jaguar brought not only its current crop of stylish new sporty sedans, coupes and convertibles, but it went all out to assemble a fantastic array of famous models from its rich history. It even brought along its most famous test driver, 90 year old Norman Dewis.

 

Twelve of the 16 Jaguar XKSS models ever built, assembled for the festivities. The Jaguar XKSS class that appeared at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is believed to be the largest-ever gathering of XKSS cars. In tandem with the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance, Jaguar XKSS owners were invited to participate in a special Pebble Beach Rally that began and ended at Casa Palmero, lapping Laguna Seca and pausing for photos at the historic Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.

 

In a striking contrast to historic cars Jaguar revealed a concept car modeled on the classy new XJ sedan. Ostensibly, this car was created to add to the 75 year celebrations, and was called the XJ75 Platinum Design Concept. A bold, almost pearlescent white paint was complemented by striking brushed finish 22 inch alloy wheels. What the car does reveal is a designstaf that seems be itching to reproduce bespoke finishes to Jaguar’s standard cars.

 

Although a one-of-a-kind creation, the XJ75 Platinum Concept does represent the impressive confidence with which Jaguar is striding the world stage, since its takeover by Tata Motors. The head of the company, Ratan Tata, made a rare visit to the USA and appeared briefly at the Concours, to join in the 75 year party. Jaguar has an interesting connection to the 60 year old beauty contest for cars. It was American Formula One world champion, the late Phil Hill, who won the inaugural road race through the pines on the 17 Mile Drive in 1950, coming home first in his Jaguar XJ 120.

 

Managing Director of Jaguar Cars, Mike O’Driscoll, commeted: "More than any other car maker Jaguar has real links to the beginnings of both racing, and showing cars at Concours here in Pebble Beach. Being here this year might almost seem like a homecoming." Like many other luxury car makers, Jaguar chose to invite its customers and potential owners to test drive its new range of cars in Monterey, and company officials told us that all the test drive slots were filled before the events began. Such a response to the new design language, and the shape and performance of the XF, XJ and XK models augers well for one of Britain’s iconic carmakers. Ratan Tata went home a happy man!