Jag’s new owners say no plans for an SUV but new sports cars, luxury sedan in the works
10/22/2008, 10:47 AM
By Drew Johnson
Less than a decade ago, SUV production was pretty much limited to mainstream companies like as Ford and Chevy. But as big ‘utes gained popularity with Americans, almost every automaker came out with one of their own, including traditional car makers like BMW and Porsche. Jaguar was one of only a handful of companies that was able to show any SUV restraint, and Jaguar’s new owners – India’s Tata Motors – plans to exercise the same kind of self control going forward.
In an interview with AutoTelegraaf, Tata CEO Ratan Tata revealed that Tata has completely ruled out giving its newest luxury brand an SUV model. Tata’s reasoning is partly due to the recent collapse of the SUV market, but more because the Indian automaker also acquired the Land Rover marque in its deal with Ford.
Instead, Tata will refocus Jaguar on the sports car and luxury sedan markets. An updated XK is in the works for next year, which will be followed by a high-performance XKR-R. Jaguar’s long-rumored Porsche 911 rival is officially in development, and will likely wear the C-XE nameplate as a lightly disguised concept before hitting the market as the XE.
A new XJ sedan is also being readied to complement the company’s XF sedan, and should be ready to hit the market in late 2010.
10/22, 10:48 AM
posted by:
edgeguy
Thank god. I’m so tired of luxury brands diluting their image with these crap SUVs.
10/22, 11:54 AM
posted by:
NismoSentraKen
=========>>what tha hell is supposed to be Jaguar’s long-rumored Porsche911? Are they planning a rear-engined, 4seat coupe?
10/22, 12:00 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Jaguar needs to concentrate on losing its styling ugly-stick…like the large one they used on the XF.
10/22, 12:41 PM
posted by:
Catiadesigner
Good, I think we might see BMW, for one, catch something of a cold for stretching themselves a little too thin.
In my humble opinion Jaguar should be three or four core vehicles.
Trouble is a car company with an accountant at the helm is almost always doomed to failure, I can picture a load of suits telling him how if they broadened the brand core values into divergent sectors it would mean an increase in market share and brand awareness, increasing profits five fold. And then the big accounting ledger in his head would get all excited and he’s end up spreading Jaguars resources so thin, because to actually employ more people to all the extra work would offend the great accounting god, that when it finally reached breaking point the pieces would be that small they’d just disappear into little puffs of smoke, probably microseconds after he’d just awarded himself a 30% pay rise and an 150% productivity bonus.
10/22, 1:01 PM
posted by:
dmlgc
“Good, I think we might see BMW, for one, catch something of a cold for stretching themselves a little too thin.”
Don’t think so , look at the new X6 it sold out. I also suspect the hybrid version of it will also sell out. It’s about what will sell not what the purists think the brand should be.
10/22, 6:11 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
I’m glad that Tata realizes they also purchased Land Rover, which is generally dualled with Jaguar in many showrooms anyway. No need to dilute both brands.
10/22, 7:40 PM
posted by:
Catiadesigner
You might not know it yet but from what I’ve heard out of Germany, BMW are teetering, trust me a few thousand X6’s are not going to be much help. They are starting to can programs which is never good news.