Dear 001,
Jaguar looks set to take on the BMW X3 at upset Ford PAG group members Land Rover and Volvo at the same time by introducing the X-Type off-roader in direct competition with the Freelander and XC70, breaking a gentleman’s agreement into the bargain.
At a recent visit to an undisclosed location, I was casually introduced to an oversised, chuncky, unpainted bumper that I was told fitted an X-Type. A number of other unpainted components looked as though they would give an X-Type a more rugged look were they to be fitted.
A conversation with a colleague suggested that a serious appraisal into raising the Jags ground clearance with taller springs and bigger wheels & tires had already been carried out. The X-Type is famous for being a 4x4 already and the only apparent problems are in fitting the 4-cylinder diesel to the four-wheel-drive system. No other changes would be made to any aspect of the car.
Jaguar sees the prestigious SUV market in America as a possible destination for 50% of these cars, and appart from cosmetic changes, the off-roader would simply be an X-Type estate with extra chunky bumpers and big wheels, so development costs would be very small compared to what BMW had to go though - so this car may well see the light of day.
It’s about time!
Toodles,
Disco Volante