Jaguar Cuts Back On New Models Hoping To Sell Less And Make More Profits

Jaguar’s financial woes and restructuring plans may see its most popular model dropped from its lineup. In order to mimic successful strategies used by Porsche, Jaguar’s future will likely see it sell lower volumes of high-profit models. This means out with the current X-Type and in with the new XF and next-gen XJ saloons. Jaguar’s current financial situation also limits the amount that can be spent on development of future models, and right now the focus is on the new XF.

In an interview with Drive, Jaguar Australia’s managing director, David Blackhall, said that despite its popularity a replacement for the X-Type is not guaranteed. “The plan in relation to the X-Type is not resolved”, he said, adding “there are a number of studies underway in the UK, and a number of alternatives are being considered including doing nothing at all.” The X-Type’s conservative styling was never a hit with its target audience of dynamic young up-and-comers and its Ford Mondeo roots only added to the problem.


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cdoke - 5/7/2007 1:22:43 PM

+3 Boost

I have said it before, and I shall say it again [verbatim for that matter]:

Kill the X-type. Kill it, tear it asunder and send its pieces to the four corners of the earth. That abomination should never have been created.

I remember a time when the least expensive Jaguar was the XJ, and the brand had a sort of dark brooding mystique. They need to regain that, and the first step is to annihilate that fetus of a Jaguar known as the X-type.

jon21 - 5/7/2007 1:43:48 PM

+4 Boost

"Jaguar Cuts Back On New Models Hoping To Sell Less And Make More Profits"

Huh...since when did they ever make profits? Maybe in 1907?

atomicbri - 5/7/2007 2:26:32 PM

0 Boost

I agree, kill the X, X marks the blood spot that has tarnished the Jag brand. A Mondeo in drag... They need to have the XF, the XJ, XK and bring us an uber Jag....the F-Type!!! I think hopefully FOrd will have straightened out some of this crap within Jag and get on a roll! The XF looks promising. Let's all hope!

Johnel - 5/7/2007 6:41:49 PM

-2 Boost

What a farce. FORD should change its name to Dumb and dumber.

Anyhow FORD if Ford wanted to sell less and make more profit, they simply should have sold off Jaguar and kept Aston Martin.

EnnNorak - 5/7/2007 6:45:15 PM

-2 Boost

Jaguar should substantially lower the price of the XJ SuperV8 and make that the only model in the XJ series.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/7/2007 9:31:27 PM

+1 Boost

Why? That would lower profits. The Super V8 is extremely competitively priced- only about $90K, but with many of the luxury features and performance attributes of its twelve-cylinder antagonists. Those twelve-cylinder competitors start at about $120K, then the next one is about $125K, and then there's the big jump to the $140K S600. The closest competitor to the S-V8 is the LS600hL, as both are "V12 alternatives." There's also the Q-Porte.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/7/2007 9:32:47 PM

+1 Boost

This is exactly what I wanted to happen! I really like Jaguar as a company, and it's great to see that they're only going to produce cars that are worthwhile- the sexy new XF, the stately XJ and the beautiful XK. High-end models only. A+ for the product planners!