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Jaguar X-Type Dies Lonely Death; World Not Moved

 
9 3,785 views Jul 15, 2009
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Aren't you dead yet? Jaguar's X-Type gets its plug pulled for good.

Aren't you dead yet? Jaguar's X-Type gets its plug pulled for good.

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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]



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Comments (9)

  1. ma_bepsf avatar bepsf Posted: 7/15/2009 10:38am PDT

    If the X-Type had been introduced a year or so prior to the Mondeo - it would have been lauded and praised in the same way that Audis are universally praised before the arrival of their VW platform mates a year or two later.

    Rather than the Jaguar being perceived as a gussied-up Ford, the Ford would have been percieved as a cut-rate Jaguar.

    Timing is everything.
     
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  2. ma_Michael D avatar Michael D Posted: 7/15/2009 11:26am PDT

    The X-Type had it's run, but, it won't be missed so much, especially taking into account the line-up Jaguar has now, and will be bolstered by the outstanding new XJ! It's felt that the X-Type diluted the brand, and gave it less cache and exclusivity. Also taking into account that it was based on an (older) Ford Mondeo, and front-drive bias, even though it was AWD, this didn't help matters.
     
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  3. ma_Roy avatar Roy Posted: 7/15/2009 11:57am PDT

    What I don't understand is that the BMW 3-series, which actually outsold the Mondeo in the UK for at least one year in the recent past, hasn't apparently lost its cache. I think cache is partly driven by high quality, which the BMW has but the Jaguar was lacking.

    The Jaguar Problem can be explained as follows:
    1, Rust
    2, "Old person's car" syndrome
    3, Cheaply finished

    They solved the first by the end of the 1990s, appear to have solved the second with the launch of the new Jags (XJ, F-type, killing the S-type). If they can improve interior fit and finish, they should be better off.
     
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  4. ma_andy avatar andy Posted: 7/15/2009 5:54pm PDT

    I want to know what will replace this. Surely Jaguar aren't stupid enough to totally bomb out of this segment. They still need to make money, and that's not going to happen if all they sell is top of the line models. It can work for companies like Bugatti, Lamborghini etc because their parent companies can afford it, and it makes them money - but Jaguar is in a completely different situation...
     
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  5. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 7/15/2009 8:58pm PDT

    Didn't even know they still made it 'til 2008! And did they sell the wagon version in the U.S.? 'Cause I've never seen one.
     
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  6. ma_larryp avatar larryp Posted: 7/16/2009 7:28am PDT

    1. Yes the X-type Wagon was sold in the USA for
    a few years. I thought they didagood job on it.
    Pretty car.

    2. One prob withthe X-type was pricing. there were all these pkgs to add that made it more of a normally equipped car. With the bigger engine, still only a 3.0, and all the extras, the price went to $47,000! It was too much, and it killed the comparison shopping. Many great cars were
    less and the Used car mkt had some wonderful vehicles just off lease.
    3. No promotion from FORD for the X-type.too bad because X-type seemed a pretty nice vehicle.
     
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  7. ma_vjqc11 avatar vjqc11 Posted: 7/16/2009 11:17am PDT

    Great Idea. HORRIBLE CAR! May it rest in peace.
     
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  8. By philhef Posted: 1/1/2010 12:09pm PST

    In the past few years I've owned two BMWs and two Jaguars I currently own an X type. I realy don't understand the beating this car gets. As far as the interior, it's hands down nicer than the BMWs I've owned. The BMW plastic interior creaks and pops all the time and is just plain cold. NO STYLE. The interior of the Jaguar feels like luxury cars of old. Leather, wood, and far less plastic than the BMW.
    As for the exterior, it has a style all its own. Why must all cars be boxy and boring? People NEVER complimented the BMW, NEVER! Why would you? THere everywhere! My little black X type still gets attention and at least once a week someone says what a beautiful car it is.
    All in all, I think this may be one of my favorite cars I've owned, and I've owned a lot European cars. I for one am sad to see it go and will continue to love my X type.
     
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  9. By JimB5 Posted: 3/9/2010 6:45am PST

    I've owned and driven Alfas, BMW's, and S2000, and currently drive a 911. I'm looking for an affordable though not cheap daily driver and hands down the X-Type is the best thing going. Beautiful car, superb handling, and though maybe not worth $40K new, it's a great deal at $15K used. The Mondeo has always been a great, award-winning platform (I loved the Contour SVT I once drove), and the X-Type styling is gorgeous. Maybe a little bit boutique, but head-turning, moreso than the BMW's and Audis crowding the roads.
     
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