Jaguar Art of Performance Tour Mumbai – A weekend well spent

One of the perks of being an auto-journalist is getting to drive cars way above our pay-scales. So when Jaguar invited me for an afternoon with the British cats, I wasn’t going to look the other way. The soaring temperatures of mid-May notwithstanding, I turned up an hour early to ogle at the entire Jaguar fleet. Enthusiasts and fanboys will know what I’m talking about. I am referring to, of course, the Jaguar Art of Performance Tour. For the uninitiated, the Jaguar Art of Performance Tour is an annual experience-drive where owners (both existing and prospective) are given an opportunity to drive and familiarise themselves with the capability of Jaguar’s vehicles.

The event is held across all major cities in India. This year, the Jaguar line-up for the day included the entry-level XE, the mid-size XF and the ultra-luxurious XJ L. The F-Pace SUV and the adrenaline-rushing F-Type were also on the list. So, the day kick-started with a quick briefing by ace race-car driver and mentor, Rayomand Banajee. We were then split into groups and I moved towards my first activity for the day, the Lane Change Maneuver.

Driving in India sure is challenging, especially with all the unforeseen situations lurking around the corner. The Lane Change Maneuver test is relevant to these real-world traffic conditions as it replicates a panic braking situation and evasive braking manoeuvre. As instructed, every driver behind the wheel was required to accelerate hard, get off the throttle, switch the lane and brake hard. All this to understand the car's agility in the case of an unexpected jaywalker. Needless to say, all the Jaguar’s namely the XE, XF, XJ L and the F-Pace displayed impressive nimbleness. However, if I had to pick one here, it would be the XF.

The next test was designed to put the agility, handling and braking skills to test. The popular zig-zag slalom course required us to zip between the cones as fast as we could, come to a halt, take a U-turn and repeat the exercise on the way back. The XE being the lightest here, became an instant favourite.

Next up was the Speed Run which, as the name suggests, allows you to floor the pedal of the F-Type SVR on a mini drag-strip. As I inched towards the start-line, I could feel the 5.0 litre supercharged V8 throbbing in the background. I took a deep breath and buried my right foot only to unleash the 567bhp beast. In just a few seconds, the speedometer hit triple-digit figures that left me grasping for breath. I was hoping to get a round two of this joyride but had to give my seat away to a young lad waiting for his turn.

Just as we thought we were done for the day, the officials at the Jaguar Art of Performance Tour lead us to the Land Rover Experience zone. We had a Discovery Sport with a pilot waiting for us to showcase the SUV’s extraordinary off-road capabilities. This Above and Beyond Tour, as Land Rover likes to call it, puts the SUV through different incline and drop tests to prove its mettle. And boy, does the Discovery Sport make it look like child’s play.

All in all, the Jaguar Art of Performance Tour serves as an excellent platform for owners and prospective buyers to understand what their cars are capable of and for the enthusiasts to go gaga over the British cats. And for the ones who haven’t attended this tour yet, do keep a tab on their website for the next one.