Jaguar has been a success story as of late. Just after Ford sold the company to India’s Tata Group, sales of the new XF mid-size sedan took off. The redesigned XJ followed and helped continue the brand’s momentum.
Jaguar isn’t content to rest on its laurels however, and is already readying a mid-cycle enhancement for the XF, and has pushed the performance envelope further with models like the XKR-S at the Geneva Motor Show. What’s next for the brand? The website PistonHeads has reported on the latest plans for the brand.
While Jaguar is successful with its current lineup, it is aiming for a larger presence in the global luxury market. That means expanding the lineup. While the X-Type failed, Jaguar has reportedly approved a successor that will take the BMW 3-Series head on.
No credible global luxury player can compete successfully without a competitor to the high-volume 3-Series. Before new model lineups are introduced however, the company is focused on increasing volumes with current models by addressing some issues.
In Europe, diesels account for 70% of the market, leaving the XF severely hampered. A new four-cylinder diesel model is on the way to help expand sales. A wagon model (“estate”) XF was also introduced in the European market as wagons account for a high proportion of sales. In China, a high-growth market for luxury vehicles, a six-cylinder XJ model is slated for introduction in order to reduce import taxes. For a six-cylinders, import taxes are half of what a V-8 model demands.
In the United States, all-wheel drive systems are a must for luxury cars sold in snowy climates. The company is working to bring this to the lineup in order to increase sales to this market as well. For enthusiasts the biggest news is the possibility of an XFR-S, bringing a 550 horsepower V-8 to Jaguar’s fastest performance sedan.
Also being considered in other comments by Jaguar’s leadership is a new Jaguar crossover based on the Land Rover Evoque. Jaguar is without a crossover model, leaving Land Rover, which is under the same roof, to do that duty. Overall, addressing these key areas in the model lineup will help Jaguar’s growth significantly going forward until new models arrive.
