If you read my blog on the Jaguar XJ last week you know I wasn't too impressed. For $13,000 more than a well-equipped BMW 550i you get a sedan with less power, inferior handling, reduced driver's seat comfort and no auxiliary audio input (though the Vandan Plas does have more rear-seat legroom than a 5 Series).

After driving the XJ I was even more concerned about Jaguar's future, regardless of who owns the brand (remember, they still don't have any SUVs or crossovers in the product line-up). But driving a 2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio convertible last night largely cleansed my palate of XJ after-taste. Maybe it was the driving rain that helped the cleansing process, though it also limited my full appreciation of the XKR's 420-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 and all-aluminum structure that makes for nimble handling. Regardless, this cat proves Jaguar still has at least one or two lives left.

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Drive the latest 2008 Jaguar XJ Vandan Plas and you can't help but feel the continued "magic" that makes up Jaguar "mystique." The sleek exterior lines, the rich wood interior, the confident-yet-comfortable ride quality -- they are all in place.

But despite these classic traits it's clear Jaguar (like the rest of the Ford corporation) has suffered from product neglect. The interior design/controls feel about a decade out of date. They are still functional, but "cutting edge" or even "modern" don't work to describe them. That might not be all bad when you consider the "cutting edge" design of BMW's iDrive, but I can't help feeling there's a happy medium between old-fashioned (this car) and obnoxiously unnecessary (any iDrive system). Actually I know there is -- it's called MMI, and you can find it in any Audi.

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It appears that Indian carmaker, Tata Motors, is going to be the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover. Several recent articles, including this one in the Financial Times, show Tata in a leading position to buy the brands from Ford. We've already discussed the premium brand Ford is keeping, Volvo, so today let's look at the two nameplates Ford is looking to unload.

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In our ongoing series of future product plan coverage let's take a look at what will be coming across the Atlantic in the coming years. Glancing through the Automotive News analysis it would appear Europe's focus will be on crossovers, small cars and increased fuel efficiency. Who'd a thunk it? But a return of Alfa Romeo and a "cheap" Rolls Royce should keep things interesting. I'm only covering half of the European brands today because, well, there's a lot of them!

Alfa Romeo: After years of hints and innuendos it appears Alfa Romeo may really be coming to America in 2009. Look for the 8C Competizione (rear-drive coupe with 450hp V8), the 159 sedan (front- or all-wheel drive), the Brea (a 2+2 coupe) and the Spider (a two-seat convertible based off the Brea platform). Momma-mia!

Aston Martin: The DBS is debuting this week in Frankfurt, and it looks to be a worthy successor to the Vanquish. But the real test of Aston Martin's future will come with the launch of it high-end, high-performance sedan, the Rapide (in 2009). With new ownership and a new product direction the future could be very bright for this British brand.

Audi: The redesigned A4 is practically here, and the redesigned A6 follows next year. But the big news for 2009  is a sleek new A7 sedan that goes up against the CLS, plus not one but two new crossovers (one of which is the Q5, pictured). An A5 convertible and redesigned A8 round out the fun in 2010.

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   You know that dreaded statement when being set up for a blind date? "Well, um, he/she has a good personality." The all-new 2007 Jaguar XK8 is the opposite, meaning the superficial part of us would love going on a blind date with the car. As soon as you see it you're like, "Score!! Oh yeah, this will work!" But get in it for a drive and, if you're like me, your rally call will quickly switch to, "Check please!"

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I have been known to criticize cars that many people think are "good." It's not uncommon for a reader to see my opinion of a vehicle and say, "don't bash car XYZ, it's a 'good' car." But as many of you already know, "good" isn't good enough in today's super-competitive market. This is doubly true if, as an automaker, you are in the unenviable position of trying to reverse your dropping market share and/or change consumer perception of your product. Those guys need to be doing it better, cleaner and more effectively than the competition, and they certainly can't be producing "also rans" in terms of marketplace competitiveness. However, I'm willing to admit that while a Chevy Cobalt, Ford Five-Hundred or Chrysler Town & Country doesn't get my "gotta have" blood pumping, they are fully functional vehicles that will serve most buyers with minimal fuss.

BUT -- what about cars that aren't even "good" or "fine" but are downright "bad?" The truth is, those models are becoming fewer and further between each year...but they do exist. And, as your personal guide through the automotive world, I'm even willing to call these vehicles out by name.

Yes, I'm risking the wrath of all these cars' current owners, but I'm also ensuring that, if anyone who reads my blog subsequently buys one of these models, they do it with full knowledge of these vehicles being on my personal "Don't Buy!" list. Let the games (and hate mail) commence!

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Yet another poster child for "Cars that aren't terrible, but aren't terribly good, either." I just got home in a 2006 Jaguar S-Type R and I'm more convinced than ever that this is a perfectly adequate vehicle. It's actually better than adequate in several ways, such as it's powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine (400 hp) and comfortable-yet-supportive seats that effectively hold you in while straffing apexes (something the S-Type R is quite adept at). So where's the rub? It starts with the plasticky, Ford parts bin switchgear (not so good in a $60,000-plus vehicle) and continues in the convoluted center stack controls that are totally counter-intuitive. Lots of tiny buttons with bizarre labels. For instance, the "mode" button actually changes the audio settings (bass, treble, etc.). On most vehicles the "mode" button changes the source material (AM/FM/CD etc.). Instead, this car has separate buttons labeled AM/FM, CD and CDC (that last one is CD changer, I think??), while the "Audio" button just brings up the station presets on the touch screen.  Worse still is the optional Sirius Satellite radio system, which consists of a separate plate at the base of the center stack with another head unit for controlling the satellite system. Yes, this car has two head units, with the second one located so far down that you're basically staring at the floor whenever you use it -- and you have to stare hard because the display is both small and easily washed out in bright light. Seriously, this looks like something Best Buy might do for someone who wants to add satellite radio to a car without effecting the existing features like climate control and navigation. It even has a separate power button that you have to hit to supercede the rest of the audio system. It's almost like Ford is having trouble justifying any further investment in Jaguar... Oh yeah, the 12V power point in the center console didn't work, either. Did I already mention that the latest BMW M5 is one of the greatest cars on the planet?