There’s a new “Cat” in town. Jaguar has filled its lair with an entry-level luxury sports sedan, the XE, to attract Cat lovers to elegance at Jag’s most affordable pricing. The XE is all-new and is marketed as “a true driver’s car” that “redefines the concept of the sports sedan thanks to its advanced lightweight aluminum-intensive construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior, and outstanding ride and handling.”

The Jaguar XE was developed with an all-new modular architecture shared with both the XF mid-size sports sedan and the first-ever Jaguar SUV, the F-PACE. The architecture employs a low and sporty driving position, sleek coupe-like profile, short front and rear overhangs and a dynamic cab-rearward stance. The strongly sculpted hood creates a taut, muscular appearance and the rising waistline adds to the sense of movement.

Even with lightweight materials, XE has a curbweight of 3649 lbs. on a wheelbase of 111.6 inches; with a height of 55.7 inches, length of 183.9 inches, width of 77.4 inches and ground clearance of 4.7 inches.

Available in FWD, AWD, diesel-or gas-powered and four trims, I tested the top-of-the-line XE S, and while I optioned up, the standard items were a cornucopia of luxury and high-tech items. My XE S was loaded with features that included Dynamic Volume Control (Road speed and ambient noise levels), a meshed aluminum trim veneer with Ebony grained leather inside, 19-inch 15-spoke 'style 1015' wheels with Gloss Black Diamond Turned Finish, and an “S” Body-Kit with “S” front bumper, black front grille with Satin Chrome surround, Gloss Black extended side sills, “S” Style rear bumper with Gloss Black valence, trunk-lid spoiler and 'S' Badging. The S also came with Red brake calipers, adaptive xenon headlights with LED Signature daytime running lights, headlight power wash, auto high beam assist, “S” embossed grained leather and suedecloth sport seats, 18-way electric front seat adjustment, Adaptive Dynamics with Configurable Dynamics and Lane Keep Assist. To round out the standard S items, you also get a Driver Condition Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor and Reverse Traffic Detection, Front and Rear Parking Aids, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio and Emergency Braking.

Built at an all-new facility, at the Jaguar Land Rover Solihull plant in England, the XE comes with a choice of gas or diesel engines that are either turbocharged or supercharged. A 2.0-liter diesel in-line 4 cylinder engine in two configurations mated to either a manual 6-speed or automatic 5-speed transmission can deliver either 263hp and 380 lbs.-ft. of torque or 180hp and 430 lbs.-ft. A gas-powered turbo with direct injection, in two configurations gets either 200hp and 320 lbs.-ft. or 240hp and 340 lbs.-ft. And the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 thunders out 340hp and 450 lbs.-ft. with an 8-speed automatic.

The 3.0-liter that powered my 2017 XE in S-trim, was EPA rated at 24.4 mpg in city driving, an eyebrow-raising 46.3 mpg hwy and 34.9 combined. My test driving included some smoked tires and pedal mashing, but 40mpg was never achieved and I averaged 33.8 mpg overall.

On the road or at the track, the supercharger works with little hesitation or jolt and the engine is relatively quiet. Behind the wheel, the XE is Catlike. Acceleration is exhilarating and handling is sportcarlike and trackworthy. Steering is attentive and predictable and the low profile and ground-hugging demeanor sticks in even quick autocross situations. On the track, I was never able to approach tohe manufacturer’s claim of a 4.8-second zero-to-60mph sprint, but I was able to take my non-track-tuned model through a 5.1-second dash and a 13.6-second quarter-mile.

Inside, the spacious cabin (though backseats are a bit cramped) conforms around front seat passengers with a deep center console which creates a cockpit-like feel. The instrument panel dials and the cluster needle sweep on start-up to further emphasize the sports sedan attributes of the XE.

Front and rear seat occupants enjoy comfortable head and legroom, while fine-grain leathers and details such as contrasting twin-needle stitching pay off the Jaguar mystique of elegance. And the all-new Jaguar InControl® infotainment system offered on the XE features the latest technologies to connect the car, driver and the outside world together. At its heart is an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen which features a clear, intuitive interface with fast response times.

The configurations are plentiful as each base vehicle is available in FWD and AWD, gas-powered or diesel-powered and in XE, Premium, Prestige and R-Sport trims. The base gas-powered 2017 Jaguar XE in 20d trim starts at $37,725; 20d in All-Wheel-Drive starts at $39,825; the turbocharged 25t trim starts at $35,725 and 25t in AWD starts at $38,225; the 35t supercharged group runs from $42,525 to $54,775 to start. My test 35t AWD with the 380hp 3.0 liter V6 gas version XE S was $54,775. Loire Blue exterior paint added $565; the Technology Package added $3265 for an enhanced connected navigation system and enhanced 825-watt surround sound system; the Driver Assistance Package added $3495 for Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive speed Limiter, Surround camera System, 360-degree Parking Aid, Park assist, Adaptive Cruise control and Blind Spot Assist; and the Comfort & Convenience Package for $2235, added a Power Gesture Tailgate/trunklid, heated and cooled front seats with heated rear seats and an electric rear window sunblind. With delivery and destination charges of $995, my 2017 Jaguar XE S as tested stickered at $65,330.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

The world’s largest; that’s something that applies to many car shows at Carlisle but it’s never more appropriate than when it’s attached to Corvettes at Carlisle, presented in 2017 by Corvette America. The world’s largest all-Corvette themed weekend returns to central Pennsylvania for four action-packed days, August 24-27 and this year’s event promises to be one for the ages! For the second year in a row, Corvettes at Carlisle is officially a four-day show. Anyone attending will need every minute of those four days and wish for more by the time it’s over.

In no particular order, the event is offering a wide array of displays, guests and special features. What brings guests from around the world to Carlisle? How about a 50th Anniversary display of the 1967 Corvette, the final year of the C2 generation - what better way to celebrate? The NCRS Gallery returns with some of the top Corvettes in the world, and hosts the #1 NCCC judged show in the USA. In addition to these Vettes that will wow the 50,000+ guests, there are millions of dollars’ worth of Corvettes lined up for a special L88 reunion and showcase. There will also be a showcase of Callaway Cars in celebration of their 30th anniversary. This feature is made even better with the inclusion of Reeves Callaway and many of the cars Callaway Cars have created through the years will be featured at Carlisle.

In addition to the special features, there are multiple educational opportunities via product walkarounds and seminars as well as social happenings guaranteed to bring every Corvette lover just a little bit closer to one another. Seminars return with Paul Koerner and Brittany George, while Team Chevrolet will highlight the latest Corvettes, products and technologies via walkarounds in front of the stage.

Along with all of this, Corvette clubs converge on Carlisle to showcase their unique bonds to the hobby, socialize and of course, showcase their beloved Corvettes. This isn’t the only way the hobby comes together, as there is a special Friday evening dinner benefiting the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation and even a downtown Corvette Parade and Street Party Saturday night of event weekend.

From special guests to cars, displays and social doings, Corvettes at Carlisle has it all! Registration is open now for anyone wanting to show their car by calling 717-243-7855 or going online to www.CarlisleEvents.com. While on the web, single day and weekend tickets are available too. It’s all at Carlisle and it all starts August 24.

The international automotive spectacular known as the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals took center stage once more at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and this year’s show offered something unseen in many years; three days of dry weather! Combine Mother Nature’s cooperation with nearly 2,000 show cars, tens of thousands of passionate enthusiasts and the weekend of May 19-21, 2017 could not have been better!

As with nearly every show at Carlisle, Thursday gets things going with load in and a special gathering of invitational display car owners. In addition, vendors are coming to Carlisle early to get set up and in place for a weekend’s worth of automotive thrills and performance. Building Y’s special display included Super Cars ranging from a brand-new Acura NSX to a Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini and more. Not far from Y was Building T and its all-star showcase of stylish classics, wagons, trucks, modern performance based vehicles and a little bit of everything in between.

With amazing displays indoors, there was plenty of room outdoors for the remainder of the show cars. With cars and trucks parked by country of origin, Korean cars took center stage in 2017. Along with the Hyundai and Kia cars, the rest of the world was well represented too. Once more the SAAB lovers showed strength in numbers, but then again so did those who love the dune buggy.

Throughout the weekend there was an automotive competition at almost every turn. Some cars were in competition with one another and did not move as part of the judged showfield, while others were being pushed to the limit on the Carlisle Events’ race track. Judged cars and those selected for Carlisle Elite awards were able to earn recognition without having to drive hard and fast, but rather look good. In the meanwhile, NICOFest returned to Carlisle and hosted autocross and drifting, making for an adrenaline filled three days. Additional contests included a rolling exhaust contest, low car limbo and burnouts. Carlisle also hosted a beauty contest, where one young lady was named Ms. Carlisle Import & Performance 2017.

Seminars were a popular attraction too. Multiple offerings drew crowds, including the NSX showcase by one of its build engineers as part of the aforementioned Super Car display in Building Y. Each seminar was free to guests onsite and were hosted by experts in their respective fields.

Guests once more took part in the annual passport program. This popular feature was yet another reason to peruse the grounds for all the “cool cars” and win prizes as part of the leisurely trip around the automotive world. Finally, the swap meet, car corral and vendor base was also a driving force and will return next year along with more great cars from around the world, seminars, guests and more. Save the date, because 2018’s show runs May 18-20.

As the world’s largest all-Ford weekend speeds into view, its weekend plan is coming together too. This year’s Carlisle Ford Nationals runs June 2-4 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, is presented by Meguiars and for 2017, has an impressive array of special guests. The guests range from those who currently build cars, those who have built cars and even a TV personality and it’s all happening at Carlisle starting June 2.

2017 guests include Chuck Cantwell, Tom Scarpello, Dean McCann, the Robertson Race Team, Rutledge Wood and more. Each has their own historic piece of Ford’s blue oval and for each, an interaction is free with an event ticket or showfield registration.

Cantwell comes to Carlisle to help celebrate the GT500 Mustang. Cantwell is a former Shelby American Engineer from the 1960s who worked hand-in-hand with Carroll Shelby, Charlie McHose and other legendary names within Ford to create the Shelby GT500. Hired by Shelby himself decades ago, Cantwell served as a project engineer based in Los Angeles. In addition, Cantwell oversaw performance and prototype testing for Shelby’s namesake Mustang. His booking for this year’s event came after a chance encounter at Spring Carlisle in April of 2015 where he was walking the grounds as an enthusiast.

Another great guest is Tom Scarpello. Scarpello is the former SVT Marketing and Sales Manager for Ford and was involved in SVT from its start in 1994 all the way through 2004. During that time, he oversaw numerous SVT vehicles coming onto the market and worked directly with John Colleti, the head of SVT. Some years after leaving Ford to pursue other opportunities, he founded Revology Cars. Revology Cars takes classic Ford Mustangs and integrates modern componentry into them to improve their performance, safety, reliability, comfort and of course efficiency. He’ll be at Carlisle FRIDAY ONLY.

Dean McCann comes to Carlisle to celebrate the E & F Code cars, talk Y Blocks and more. Known as “Mr. Supercharger,” Dean's finger prints were all over the Ford Y-Blocks, Battlebirds and F-Code Supercharged cars of the late 1950's. Dean was also involved in the legendary Ford Tri-Power setup while at Dearborn Steel Tubing and has many stories to tell from this unique time period. He’ll be hosting a Q&A session on Friday and Saturday with topics covering Y-Blocks, F-Code Fords and the Battlebird program.

Not only is the GT500 getting love in 2017, so is the Ford GT. As such, the Robertson Race Team is back with a nice array of Ford’s top super car, the Ford GT. The Robertson’s were instrumental in seeing the GT back to the track at Le Mans and continue to place a key role in the brand’s success.

Last but not least, Rutledge Wood comes to Carlisle. Wood has always had a passion for cars and motorsports, learning the business of buying, restoring and selling vehicles from his father at an early age. He’s worked at Country Music Television, with NASCAR and SPEED TV (now FoxSports1) and beginning in 2015, Wood became a specialty reporter and NASCAR analyst. More recently, he covered the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the Kentucky Derby and hosted a variety of car-related TV shows. Wood comes to Carlisle with eBay Motors as they travel the country to overhaul a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback. Coming to Carlisle is just one of four stops before the big unveiling at SEMA in November.

Complete event details can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

First launched in 1976, the Honda Accord began as a compact hatchback, moved into the mid-size arena in 1990 and has been a full-size sedan since 2008. Its last full redesign for the 2013 model year was significantly updated last year with mods to the exterior and interior, as well as a host of new technology and safety features. A body upgrade, a major facelift and increased techno capabilities added a sportier and more sophisticated demeanor to Accord, and for 2017, the model remains essentially intact.

Last year’s tweaks included the refined design, a more rigid body and upgraded chassis, along with upsized wheels and tires on select models. Technologically, all 2017 Accords can be equipped with Honda Sensing™ as a standalone option on all trims except Touring, which features Honda Sensing™ as standard equipment. Honda Sensing™ is a comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies.

Accord’s updated exterior styling included replacing the previous wrap-around front bumper with a more sharply creased and intricately structured front fascia, the lower portion of which tucks into large intake-like meshed areas that house LED fog lights. Revised suspension tuning increased road and auto-cross capabilities, and the sedan received a more contoured aluminum hood with deeper sculpted creases and a brighter, more pronounced front grille. The expressive face of Accord is complimented by a sharply carved rear bumper fascia and aggressive LED taillight design.

Available features for 2017, depending on model and trim, include remote engine start, front and rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, rear seat heaters, and a 60/40 split and folding rear seat. The Accord Sedan and Coupe, depending on trim, also feature multiple exterior colors, interior fabrics and décor.

Accord is constructed with Honda's next-generation ACE™ body structure, and presents an aerodynamic and lightweight body, sophisticated suspension design and upscale interior package while offering passenger comfort and ergonomics as well as advanced performance and safety and driver-assistive systems. Its crisp styling is packaged in a length of 192.5 inches, an overall height of 57.7 inches, width of 72.8 inches and a 109.3-inch wheelbase, while weighing in at a curb weight of 3170 lbs. for the base Accord LX, topping out at 3605 lbs. for the Touring trim.

The 2017 Accord Sedan and Coupe are offered with two advanced engines – a direct-injected 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine (offered in regular and Sedan Sport versions), and a 3.5-liter V-6 that is the most powerful engine offered in a Honda sedan. The 2.4 is rated at 185hp and 181 lbs.-ft. of torque with an EPA estimate of 27/city and 36/highway for the sedan. The Sedan Sport adds 4 horses and 1 lb.-ft and loses about 1 mpg. The 3.5-liter produces 278hp and 252 lbs.-ft. of torque and gets an EPA rating of 21/34 for the Touring trim.

My test Accord 3.5-liter was a solid performer on the road, and economically, was in the mid-30s in miles per gallon, but city driving took its toll and I averaged 23.8 mpg overall in mixed-use driving. On the track, good acceleration finished off a zero to 60mph run in 6.2 seconds and a quarter-mile accomplished in 14.6 seconds – more than 1.3 seconds quicker than I ran last year with the smaller engine.

Accord handles well, with predictable steering and very little yaw. Reliable on the road, Accord is a sweet performance ride on the autocross, with little drift during quick turns. For family outings on the highway, Accord’s suspension is family-comfortable.

With seating for five, the interior allows 39.1 inches of front headroom and 37.5 in row two for the Base models, but you lose space with the upscale trims -- Touring only affords 37.6 inches of front headroom and 37.0 in row two. Legroom for all trims is 42.5 in row one and 38.5 for second-row passengers, and shoulder room goes 58.6 and 56.5

The cabin is packed with such amenities as power door locks, power windows with auto-up/down driver's window, tilt and telescopic steering column, USB audio interface, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, speed-sensitive volume control, Maintenance Minder™ system, illuminated power window switches, Smart Entry and Start, Honda LaneWatch™ blind spot display and a 160-watt, 6-speaker audio system.

The base 2017 Accord sedan starts at $22,455 for the base LX, with the 2.5-liter 185hp Inline-4 engine and 6-Speed Manual transmission. The automatic adds $800. Seven different trim styles take it all the way up to $34,930 for the Touring trim I tested, with the 278hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and automatic transmission. The Touring trim also comes with Honda Sensing™, Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™, continuously variable transmission and 19-inch Alloy Wheels -- wheel upgrades run from $1396 to $2240. In Basque Red Pearl with an Ivory interior, my Accord Touring added body side molding for $225; chrome door trim for $275; sport grille for $399; door visors for $276; a moonroof visor for $129; splash guards for $104; door edge guards for $95; rear bumper appliqué for $71; and door visors for $271. Inside, illuminated door sill trim added $290; interior illumination added $125; a trunk tray was $139 and all-season floor mats were $143. A wireless phone charger system added $290 and destination and handling added $875 for a price-as-tested of $37,981, but a base Accord LX can sticker as low as $24,000.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.