JCB owner ends pursuit of Jaguar
Sir Anthony Bamford has decided that he's not interested in taking Jaguar off of Ford's hands, at least not if it's bundled Land Rover. The owner of JCB, a construction and agricultural equipment company, who recently captured the title of world's fastest diesel with his 350.092mph DieselMax, announced today that despite voicing his interest last August in purchasing Jaguar from Ford, wasn't interested in a package deal that included Land Rover. Technically speaking, Aston Martin is currently the only brand up for sale in Ford's Premier Auto Group, but it seems like the word is out on the street that if anyone's interested in both Jaguar and Land Rover, that Ford would consider an offer.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shawn 11:58AM (10/16/2006)
"word is out on the street?" More like automotive writers fabricating information and presenting it as fact.
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chuck goolsbee 1:08PM (10/16/2006)
It is a shame, since Sir Anthony seems to have grasped what makes Jaguar... namely racing, racing-inspired two seater sports cars, and luxury saloon cars.
All these "tarted up Tauruses" that Ford keeps saying are Jags do nothing but dilute the brand. The world has been waiting for the next E-type since 1974. Ford can't deliver. I bet Sir Anthony Bamford could deliver.
--chuck
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Brian 1:58PM (10/16/2006)
Which trim level of Taurus is the XK? I'd love to buy one, but I would settle for the Taurus XJ, if there are any of those sitting on dealer lots.
The world may be waiting for the next E-type, but blaming the non-existance on Ford is idiotic. Jaguar on their own couldn't deliver for 20+ years before Ford bought the mess of a car company. It's just now getting respectable. Quality is good again and the XJ and XK are very competitive cars. The next S-Type is going to be hot, and the X-type served it's purpose very well (giving the brand enough sales to stay alive. Now that it's no longer needed it's gone).
Ford has done a fantastic job with all of the companies it bought to create the PAG in the 90s. Aston is turning a profit for the first time ever, Land Rover is breaking all sorts of sales records, and Volvo is about to turn the corner as their lineup is now fully post-purchase vehicles and 2nd generation post-purchase for the really old models.
Ford knows what's in the pipeline for Jag and they've decided that the company is worth a lot more than Sir Bamford is willing to pay. So be it.
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Stphane Dumas 4:29PM (10/16/2006)
I wonder if Sir Bamford could bought some shareholding of FoMoCo in case if "Kaptain Kirk" Kerkorian suddenly decide to have an eye on Ford?
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roadside observer 10:58AM (10/17/2006)
The only Jag even remotely a "tarted-up Taurus" is the X-Type, and it's based on the European Mondeo - not the Taurus.
The X-Type will most likely be disappearing from the lineup in the near future.
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