Flood of new models planned for Jaguar

With the sale of Jaguar to India’s Tata Group expected to be announced within weeks the British carmaker will finally have the financial backing to develop the exclusive range of performance cars its management has been dreaming of. Shedding the Ford shackles, which have held it back for 15 years, and less than a year out from returning to profitability, Jaguar is now ready to develop a range of new models including luxury saloons, sporty coupes and all new two-seater 911-rival.

Already in the works is the replacement for the XJ flagship. Codenamed X351, the new car is expected to arrive next year and will feature a more advanced aluminum body (fewer rivets, more extrusions and extra rigidity). It will have a unique look all of its own and won’t simply be a bigger XF, and will come in both short and long wheelbase models.

The XK Coupe will eventually spawn an ultra-performance XKR-R model complete with the carmaker’s new 500hp 5.0L V8 engine and a top speed of around 180mph. According to the source, Jaguar could also develop a new sedan on the XK as well. This model would be styled as a four-door coupe and rival cars like Mercedes’ CLS and the forthcoming Panamera sedan from Porsche.
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xj13 - 2/3/2008 10:18:40 PM

+5 Boost

GO Jaguar.

pchera01 - 2/4/2008 2:14:20 PM

+3 Boost

GO TATA

cdoke - 2/3/2008 10:39:10 PM

+1 Boost

Well, I think this article is speculation and poor journalism.

First of all I have read that the idea of an XF estate has been "shelved for good" because of a lack of such heritage at Jaguar and that the development costs are prohibitive given that Jaguar's market does not desire such a machine. That is directly from the Autocar article which they are citing. The coupe is the most likely variant of the XF. The convertible is unlikely as the chassis itself would have to be re-engineered, and the 4x4 is ludicrous.

The XK saloon is unlikely as well. The next XJ has been pitched by Jaguar against the CLS, the Quattroporte, and the Flying Spur (obviously not based on price) there would seem to be overlap.

Interestingly it has been revealed that the LWB XJ will be 8 inches (not the typical 5 or so) longer than its SWB counterpart, and that the car will be engineered in SWB form to carry two full-sized adults in the rear.

Rupert - 2/4/2008 10:15:34 AM

+1 Boost

Perhaps the XJ SWB and LWB will be significantly different cars?
I.E. the SWB is sporting, more of a CLS rival (although surely the XF competes with that?) and the LWB will be a proper limousine. Who says Jag have to follow a traditional model line up? If they do go low-volume, it would make sense. If it's priced right Jag could become Britain's Maserati, exclusive and sporting.

And I think an XF shooting brake would be a very good idea - a proper sporting estate.
No XF convertible - what would it rival?? 6 series I suppose, but lots of extra cost.
XF coupe is a fine idea, but they have to make it look great.
And the 4x4 is pointless - what are Land Rovers for?
I hope they make a small coupe/convertible ie TT or Boxster rival, that would do great things to cement a sporting image.

lyonboy - 2/4/2008 12:50:37 AM

-2 Boost

Jaguar sputtered badly under Ford but better than than they were doing prior to Ford. Jaguar built nothing but JUNK during the 80's. Anything launched in the next 3 to 4 years will be Ford influenced not TATA. Jaguar is doing better but TATA is buying a real challenge.

fuelfool - 2/4/2008 4:08:16 AM

0 Boost

"Shedding the Ford shackles, which have held it back for 15 years"? The author is an idiot. Granted, Jaguar could be in better shape, but to suggest that they were better off prior to Ford is absurd. Hmmm, let's see: Lucas Electronics and infamous unreliability b.f. (before Ford) or a 400 HP XK-R, an all-aluminum bodied XJ, the new XF and #1 in JD Power customer satisfaction for 2007 with the highest rating ever recorded during Ford's tenure?

SHOWTIME - 2/4/2008 9:39:26 AM

+1 Boost

now were talkin! come on keep it rollin Jaguar.

mini22 - 2/4/2008 12:37:57 PM

+1 Boost

The big mistake that Ford did with Jaguar was the Mondeo based X-type. If indeed it was designed by Ford in the US it really was a fatal move by Ford. That Mondeo which was note that much different the American Ford Contour could never compete with a BMW 3 series and Audi A4 or the C series Mercedes.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/4/2008 7:22:42 PM

+1 Boost

But interestingly, the new Mondeo certainly can compete with lower-end 3 Series and A4 models.

pchera01 - 2/4/2008 2:13:13 PM

+1 Boost

did somonne said TATA can't do anything with Jaguar