Motor Authority - blog Category: X-TYPE

Poor unloved Jaguar X-Type--the memorial service won't be the media circus of some other recent farewells, will it?

The compact luxury sedan has finally met its maker. Production will end in December, reports Autocar, and there will end the massive experiment that probably signaled the end of Ford's long involvement with the brand.

Hopes were high in 2002 when Ford added a reworked Mondeo to the Jaguar lineup. With all-wheel drive, goggle-eyed styling and a chintzy interior by brand standards, the Jaguar X-Type won positive reviews for its handling--but not much more. At a time when Lexus, BMW and Mercedes were winning converts with new... Poor unloved Jaguar X-Type--the memorial service won't be the media circus of some other recent farewells, will it? The compact luxury sedan has finally met its maker. Production will end in December, reports Autocar, and there will end the massive experiment that probably signaled the end of Ford's long involvement with the brand. Hopes were high in 2002 when Ford added a reworked Mondeo to the Jaguar lineup. With all-wheel drive, goggle-eyed styling and a chintzy interior by brand standards, the Jaguar X-Type won positive reviews for its handling--but not much more. At a time when Lexus, BMW and Mercedes were winning converts with new smaller cars, Jaguar's gamble cost its reputation dearly. The X-Type drooped on U.S. sales charts until 2008, when the car was finally discontinued. Used versions command bottom dollar today, despite its virtues--handling, a more roomy wagon version, and all-wheel drive. Jaguar built more than 350,000 X-Types in eight years, which makes it the highest-volume Jaguar ever. Since the sale of Jaguar by Ford to Tata, the new direction of fewer customers, fewer cars and a more exclusive image has been aided by the introduction of the 2010 Jaguar XJ sedan. Whether it permanenty fixes the "Jaguar problem"--great cars with sales below the yearly total just for the Lexus RX--remains to be seen. [Autocar via TheCarConnection] Read More

Updated: Jaguar has announced today that the entry-level X-Type range will be dropped from the U.S. market as soon as the new XF arrives. Production of the U.S. spec cars will be ceasing at the end of the year and sales should wind up by the end of the first quarter next year by about which time the all-new XF saloon should be on sale. Tough competition and the unfavorable currency situation are the key reasons sited for the car’s departure. Follow the jump to read about the updated X-Type, the car American buyers will be missing.

Original: Jaguar’s X-Type has been with us since 2001, but with no signs of a replacement arriving... Updated: Jaguar has announced today that the entry-level X-Type range will be dropped from the U.S. market as soon as the new XF arrives. Production of the U.S. spec cars will be ceasing at the end of the year and sales should wind up by the end of the first quarter next year by about which time the all-new XF saloon should be on sale. Tough competition and the unfavorable currency situation are the key reasons sited for the car’s departure. Follow the jump to read about the updated X-Type, the car American buyers will be missing. Original: Jaguar’s X-Type has been with us since 2001, but with no signs of a replacement arriving anytime soon developers will attempt to keep the fires burning with another minor update. New additions to the car include several styling tweaks as well as a new automatic transmission for the 2.2L diesel model. Exterior changes consist of revised bumpers and alloys while the interior revisions give more choice of trim and equipment. Its makers claim that nearly 500 new components have been developed for the update despite rumors the car may be dropped from Jaguar’s lineup after the current production run ends. For the first time in this model range, the X-Type is available with an automatic transmission for the 2.2L diesel model. The six-speed self shifter features Jaguar’s one-touch sequential shift and offers gear changes as smooth as those in the more expensive XJ saloon. The updated car will be available in both sedan and estate variants and officially goes on sale in March next year in the UK and other markets by April.Jaguar updates X-Type, drops it from U.S. lineup Read More

Despite its money troubles Jaguar is plugging away at the model updates, this time revealing enhanced versions of the XK and X-Type to usher in the 2008 model year. The XK coupe gets a new antenna mounted into the rear spoiler, new aluminum or wooden trim and chrome highlights for the controls, while the high-performance supercharged XKR gets new 20in double five-spoke Senta alloy wheels, Jaguar’s premium stereo and bright finish alloy pedals as standard.

The XKR features the same 4.2L supercharged V8 as the outgoing version, which outputs 420bhp and 560Nm of torque. The performance coupe is capable of a 0-60mph time of just 4.9... Despite its money troubles Jaguar is plugging away at the model updates, this time revealing enhanced versions of the XK and X-Type to usher in the 2008 model year. The XK coupe gets a new antenna mounted into the rear spoiler, new aluminum or wooden trim and chrome highlights for the controls, while the high-performance supercharged XKR gets new 20in double five-spoke Senta alloy wheels, Jaguar’s premium stereo and bright finish alloy pedals as standard. The XKR features the same 4.2L supercharged V8 as the outgoing version, which outputs 420bhp and 560Nm of torque. The performance coupe is capable of a 0-60mph time of just 4.9 seconds and is limited to a top speed of 155mph. Thanks to its all aluminum construction, the coupe is not only stiffer and more agile but it undercuts its predecessor’s weight by 70kg, weighing in at 1665kg. Jaguar’s entry-level X-Type sedan has also come in for an upgrade despite fears that the model may be dropped after the current production run ends. The refreshed model will retain its four engines, but gets revised front-end designed to match the rest of Jaguar’s lineup. The car comes with a new mesh grille and new exterior color options. Engine options range from a four-cylinder 2.0L diesel to the range topping 3.0L petrol V6 variant with AWD. Read More

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... 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. According to Blackhall, Jaguar’s survival hopes are riding on the back of the XF. “It has to be a success, a home run. This is Jaguar’s money-shot for the next five years.” Unlike the current S-Type, which has been criticized for its retro styling, the new XF is expected to be a volume seller and should lure away customers from the German luxury marques. Without going into specifics, Blackhall also mentioned that the XF could spawn several other variations, suggesting models other than a four-door saloon. “There’s also a much more robust engine strategy with the XF than in the past” he said, adding that there could be a four-cylinder version as well as hybrids and a turbodiesel V8 based on technology from the rest of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group. Blackhall also revealed some key details about the XF, mentioning that the C-XF concept car shown in Detroit is very similar to the production version XF. The front and rear of the final car will be similar to the concept but the headlights will be wider and the roofline a few inches taller. We’ll have to wait until the car’s debut at September’s Frankfurt Auto Show to see how it all pans out. Read More