Motors - Jaguar's Model Line Up

Jaguar’s Model Line Up

With Tata seemingly turning the fortunes of JLR totally around, they have started thinking how they can boost the fortunes of both Jaguar and Land Rover.

With Land Rover, a new Defender is the main requirement, a long with the Range-Rover coupe Evoque plus a larger amount of chassis sharing within Land Rover and engine sharing with Jaguar.

Jaguar, however is a more complicated animal to tackle. Land Rover uses Jaguar engines, with both companies benefiting hugely from an excellent range of petrol and diesel motors.

Jaguar is only recovering from Its huge down turn in fortunes under Ford and the whole JLR group is only just becoming profitable. Land Rover is a well respected brand, with the Discovery, Freelander, Range-Rover and Defender all selling well in the various guises these cars have appeared under and so Land Rover has a good base from which to create more challenging models, such as the Evoque. Add in the plan for Land Rover to use two maybe even one chassis design for Its range and you can see the healthy future for Land Rover.

Jaguar on the other hand has endured some serious failures in its past models and is up against stiff German opposition in its various markets.

 

Currently Jaguar has 4 models: The XF, the company’s smallest car, a four door saloon with a range-topping ‘XF-R’ performance version, which has been, arguably, the key to Jaguar’s revival.

This car is a genuine competitor in the large saloon market, with some seriously good looks as a major plus to add to its very German talents.

The new XJ has some huge boots to fill, the XJ has been a long term success for Jaguar, selling well during its life with very little variation on design since the 1970’s. 

The new car is competing in the Mercedes S-Class, Audi S8, BMW 7 Series market. However the XJ, so far has shown the same modern qualities and talents that allowed the XF to make its mark and early signs are promising. 

Finally, the XK, both convertible and coupe versions, as well as limited edition versions was the start of Jaguar’s modernisation before the XF and XJ arrived. The XK’s modern looks, fantastic handling and lovely engines mean the XK is able to compete well and the sales figures speak for themselves.

Tata however, and rightly, are far from satisfied. JLR is only just back in profit and needs to expand itself much further to remain stable and become truly self-sustaining. So, firstly, Jaguar is starting with improvements to current models, particularly the XF.

An estate version of the XF is almost certain, Tata itself has said that this is a necessary car and makes more sense than anything else. A minor extension to the chassis and a tweak to the suspension set-up to account for the body, at most is required and an estate body is needed.

No new engines are needed and interior trim levels can be applied to the estate. The only potential stumbling block is getting the rear light cluster right as Jaguar has cashed in on its current ability to produce a competent and wonderful looking car.

This has been given a green like by Tata, probably due in 2012 when the whole XF range is given a mid-life face lift.

The next alteration Jaguar can produce from the XF is even easier, and would allow Jaguar to follow in the modern trends, and that is an XF coupe.

A body work modification would be all that is needed and Jaguar then have three models from one base. The coupe could also benefit from the XF-R engine and suspension to create another top end car for them.

 It isn’t that simple though. Jaguar can ill afford to have one of its cars competing with another one of its own cars. In this case, the XF coupe could steal sales from the XK, a very real potential as the XF and XK share engines.

The next thing Jaguar must do, and in my opinion, is crucial. And that is replace the defunct X-Type. The only problem the X-Type has, was it was a Ford Mondeo chassis, engines and suspension with a Jaguar badge and interior.

But it wasn’t that simple, the X-Type estate had Four Wheel Drive, and so the car could have had rear wheel drive. The Estate was also a great utilitarian car, huge boot, beautiful interior and lovely ride and again, great looks.

Tata have realised this and have told Jaguar it must produce a car that can slot in below the XF, as with the XF estate, Tata has given Jaguar permission to get to work on this properly. Name wise I’d be surprise if it was called ‘X-Type’, partly to avoid reviving memories of the old, failed, X-Type, but also to include it in the modern Jaguar naming scheme.

It would sit below the XF in the range, and with an ‘XE’ forthcoming, it would be logical to call it the ‘XD’ or ‘XC’. I’d tip for XC personally. 

I think this car is probably the most important Jaguar since the XF. When it was announced, Jaguar was in serious trouble with the word ‘bankruptcy’ becoming quite loud, so the XF had to succeed.

The XC would be going up against the Mondeo, 3-Series and A4, all seriously good cars and if it is a success then Jaguar will be truly back, but if it fails, it could end up costing a lot, both in financial and reputation terms.

Not only would Jaguar need to produce a new base, they would need a new set of engines as Jaguar has no four cylinders or small capacity diesels. They can pinch engines from Land-Rover, as well as the rumoured options on Ford engine, but this is all extra development costs.

The next car, which has also received approval from Tata, is a ‘baby roadster’, almost certainly going to be called the ‘XE’, invoking memories of the E-Type.

Again, this car could prove a stumbling block. The modern roadster is not the same as it used to be. Ok, the MX-5 soldiers on bravely, but it’s a dying breed.

However, in theory, place this in front of the Mercedes SLK with some good engines, either from the XF or ‘XC’ and you end up with a car that could bring Tata the levels of sales figures that it feels JLR should be achieving.

Again this car could prove crucial in determining Jaguar's fortunes; if it has the right balance of handling, luxury, price, performance and economy that  buyers look for in this segment, then it could take Jaguar into new realms of success. 

The potential here is for the XE and 'XC' to share the same chassis, suspension and engines, helping to cut development costs of both cars. To my mind, this is almost a certainty as Jaguar will want to produce good cars for the least expense.

This and the replacement to the X-Type are critical to the future of Jaguar and most come soon to build on the success that the current models have created.

Tata is also demanding that Jaguar develop 'alternate' propulsion systems, and this has seen Jaguar partner up with several British companies, such as MIRA, Lotus Engineering and Caparo, and has recently been confirmed to receive UK government funding to create micro range extenders, beginning with the prototype XJ 'Green-Limo' and a recently revealed XF that utilises a flywheel to provide 'free' drive, similar to the mechanical KERS system from Formula 1.

  

The final thing I want to mention is the concept that is due at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, a few weeks away at the time of writing. This is a concept that is much in line with what Mazda likes to do; showcase a car that hints at the direction the company’s design language is going to go, revealed by Autocar India, with this rendering based on the information they obtained..

In this case, it will be an XK based car showcasing what could end up as the next XK

It signals the end of the Ian Callum era, an era that probably saved Jaguar, and the start of a new one which also signals the end of the oval grille of Jaguar sports cars, with Callum himself saying that shape won’t suit wide-mouth cars.

Imagine this rendering with a slightly narrower grille, less pronounced flanks and the ever-popular LED day-time running lights and I can see this on sale in 2014 no problem.

Jaguar sighted Porsche’s 918 as inspiration, so a V6 rear-wheel drive power train with electric motors on the front wheels or electric/petrol hybrid drive to the rear wheels are two very likely configurations.

Expect any Jaguar hybrid to be one of their own as Tata is keen for JLR to delve into alternative drive technologies, with micro petrol charging combined with all-electric drives fairly high up and big improvements in the range/performance returns in electric-only drive returns.

When Tata bought JLR, I despaired for the fates of both companies, but Tata have taken the beginnings of turn around for both companies and fashioned a group with a much rosier future than could have been imagined under Ford.

As with Aston Martin, these two British companies now have the potential to go on and truly leave a mark on modern motoring.

MD