Archive for category Jaguar
Jaguar Reinvents XJ220 As Stunning New R8 Beater
Posted by in Jaguar on June 30, 2011
Exciting news for Jaguar fans this week, as Britain’s Auto Express magazine revealed that the company is planning to reinvent the legendary XJ220. The magazine, well-regarded for its new car scoops, claims a dramatic new mid-engined sports car is being developed by Jaguar as a rival to the Audi R8.
While the concept is denied by Jaguar, the magazine claims that the car will make its debut at a major international motor show within the next 18 months – indicating that plans must already be well advanced. In a nod to the marque’s iconic E-Type, the two-seater is tipped to be badged the XE, heralding a return to a more raw, sporting side of Jaguar’s heritage.
However this isn’t the first Jaguar concept thought to be set for the badge. Last year it was speculated that it would adorn a Porsche Boxster-rivalling baby coupe-convertible that would sit below the XK in the range.
Plans for an R8 rival would mark another big step in the company’s revival of its dated model range.
XFR breaks record
The revelation comes as the sports version of Jaguar’s new XF model has smashed the company’s speed record.
In a graphic demonstration of the progress made in car design and engineering since the 1990s, an uprated four-door XFR saloon hit a top speed of 225.675 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, going even faster than the 217.1mph record set by the XJ220.
Rumours are that the minor developments to the showroom XFR that boosted the car to the record will debut on the road as a hotter XFR S model.
With a price that will undercut significantly the BMW M5, the flagship XFR is set to be a tough package to beat at the top of the executive saloon sector.
Looking ahead
Jaguar had a mixed year in 2008, launching the widely-praised new XF model and seeing UK sales rise by nine percent while many other luxury car brands faced a sales slump.
But this success was overshadowed by news towards the end of the year of extended shut downs at the company’s Castle Bromwich plant and job losses. With the company’s current focus on developing its new XK and XF models, as well as launching an all-new luxury XJ saloon due in 2010, the XE is not likely to be seen in the showrooms before 2012.
Stuart Coster is editor of motoring advice site KwikGuides.com, which provides free guides and tools to help with buying, selling and running a car. The site’s latest guide is on Choosing Car Insurance and Cutting the Cost. Read the rest of this entry »
Jaguar Considers A Compact Luxury Sedan
Posted by in Jaguar on June 30, 2011
British automaker Jaguar, owned by Indian automaker Tata Motors, may be readying a competitor to BMW’s popular and segment leading 3 Series line. For Jaguar, a new model would be its second attempt to compete with BMW, ten years after introducing its first attempt, its X-Type sedan.
European Competition
Jaguar must expand its line up to compete against the strongest European brands, each based in Germany. Mercedes, BMW and Audi have been gaining market share, at the expense of Jaguar, Volvo and other premium brands. Jaguar, with Land Rover, is controlled by Tata and could use its Indian administrator to provide much needed and cheaper build capacity. At present, both brands employ aged manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom for production, but may not have the room to undertake an entry level model.
Word that Jaguar is interested in a new entry level model comes from Adrain Hallmark, the company’s global brand director. New to the position, Hallmark comes from the Volkswagen Group and is a visionary intent on making Jaguar competitive. Jaguar competes well in larger and more luxurious segments, but requires an entry-level player to bring people to the brands. This is important as all three German manufacturers are looking to introduce yet smaller cars into their product mix, with Mercedes intent on introducing its compact front-wheel-drive architecture to the United States by 2012.
Baby Jaguar
A new Jaguar model won’t appear before 2015 as the automaker is at the beginning of a process that takes approximately four years to complete. The automaker will not rely upon an interim model to fill the void, preferring to get the job done right the first time. The earlier Jaguar X-Type was based on the platform underpinning the Ford Mondeo, Europe’s counterpart to the Ford Fusion. Likely, the new baby Jaguar will be built fresh from the ground up, featuring a new line of engines and transmissions, incorporating current cabin and safety technologies.
Tata Motors purchased Jaguar and Land Rover from the Ford Motor Company in June 2008, just as the world markets began to collapse. Today’s Jaguar sells three model lines: its XF midsize sedan, XJ full size sedan and the XK, its two-door coupe and two-door convertible model. All three model lines are new or have been updated in recent years, giving Jaguar one of the more modern fleets among luxury brands.
Together, the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) automotive group represents the last of the major British automakers, a once proud and independent industry now dominated by foreign makes and owners
Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Acura parts and turbocharger kits. Read the rest of this entry »