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click above image for full high-res gallery of the Jaguar XF
Veteran auto journalist Jim Mateja has been poking around Jaguar dealerships to find out how much buzz ixists for the new Jaguar XF. The XF is widely considered a do-or-die car for Jaguar, which sold just 1,061 vehicles last month. Billed as the replacement for the S-Type sedan, it needs to sell well. Doing so would show that Jaguar has at least one life left out of nine to give.
The Jaguar XF goes on sale March 1, 2008, but Mateja reports at KickingTires.net that dealers have already formed waiting lists that are likely longer than the number of units they'll receive when the car launches. Jaguar has also informed its dealers that there will be no mark ups: cars will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. While the brand hasn't revealed how many units it plans to have available at launch, Mateja estimates about 20,000 units sold annually will be their target. That number is based on how many S-Types were sold in that car's first year and is a good benchmark for the success of the XF. If Jaguar did manage to sell 20,000 XFs in 2008, the automaker's numbers overall would certainly go up versus 2007.
So we know there's demand for the XF when it launches next year, but the real question is whether that demand will be sustained after the initial buzz wears off. We think it will, if for no other reason than the XF is a unique vehicle. Its styling is spot on, though needs to be appreciated in person for the full effect, while the interior may set a new standard in simple elegance for the segment. This time next year we'll know if those things add up to a successful launch.
[Source: Kicking Tires]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SPG @ Oct 11th 2007 5:08PM
Two birds killed with one stone.
The very "been there done that" yet good Jaguar S-Type gets a replacement and the Jaguar brand finally gets some customers back.
It would be a sad day for the industry if we lost this brand and now we might not have to worry about that as much.
RickCA @ Oct 12th 2007 1:41PM
SPG ar eyou kidding me with this?!?! I don't understand why someone would want an updated Ford taurus body with an updated lincoln town car dashboard! This is supposed to save Jag?!?! Sorry for anyone who buys lis lame excuse for a luxo automobile! and it's worth nothing as soon as they drive it off the lot!
SPG @ Oct 12th 2007 2:07PM
Rick,
I'm just happy Jaguar is getting some customers back.
There has not been a Jaguar that I would personally buy made past 1998.
Barry @ Oct 11th 2007 5:14PM
"Veteran auto journalist Jim Mateja has been poking around Jaguar dealerships to find out how much buzz ixists for the new Jaguar XF. "
Is that a play on the word "exists" some how or is that the worst spelling error I've ever come across?!
testa di cazzo @ Oct 11th 2007 5:16PM
the latter
chuck goolsbee @ Oct 11th 2007 5:15PM
Be careful about mentioning anything related to Jaguar on your website, Ford might sue you for it:
http://xkedata.com/blog/2007/10/11/calendars-areoff/
xkedata.com is an enthusiast website dedicated to collecting data regarding the surviving Jaguar E-types (built from 1961 until 1974). Every year they publish a calendar with photographs submitted by enthusiasts (of their own cars!) and Ford wants this stopped.. for some dumb reason.
Who at Ford thinks that taking legal action against the Jaguar owners is a smart business move?
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Aki @ Oct 11th 2007 5:56PM
That's horrible. And stupid--all it will do is generate bad PR for Ford and Jaguar. Then again, Ford hasn't been very slick lately anyways, so it hardly comes as a surprise.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:53PM
Why does Ford even care.
I thought it was going to sell Jag off anyway.
naggs @ Oct 11th 2007 6:55PM
same thing was going on with mustang sites a while back, pretty much any fan site that was bring in advertising dollars that had the name mustang in the URL was getting taken to court by ford
idiots
British_Rover @ Oct 11th 2007 8:02PM
BMW did the same thing to lots of the MINI Cooper enthusiast sites a few years ago. MINIcooperonline.com was forced to change its name to northamericanmotoring.com
Blake @ Oct 11th 2007 5:21PM
I hope it will have the optional Dodge interior in the US as well as Europe:
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009-jaguar-xf-1/392166/
Blake @ Oct 11th 2007 5:37PM
Ha! Good call, Blake!
Eric Biran @ Oct 11th 2007 8:41PM
First sedan with three row seating. Amazing!
Vivek @ Oct 11th 2007 5:57PM
Can Jaguar dealers atleast do something about those low rent Kia Rio headlights?
jsjs @ Oct 11th 2007 7:19PM
Are you saying that Jag borrowed styling cues from Kia?
Toledo Guy @ Oct 11th 2007 6:06PM
Too little, too late in my area. Brand new Jaguar/Land Rover dealer here in Toledo closed up shop last month. Less than 2 years after building a brand new facility to enter the market.
Daniel Cowan @ Oct 11th 2007 10:44PM
People, don't be too quick to abandon ship. Jaguar needs time, just like people need to give with Mercury. If Ford plays its cards right with both, they have great market niche, or some other, potential. They can be great car brands, even if their names don't start with the letter T.
Maestro1 @ Oct 12th 2007 12:26AM
Somehow they need too much time, and they're definitely running out of time now. Look at Saturn - it turned itself around and is now on the road to success. With Mitsubishi its the same story. Its not much of an excuse to ask for more time really, they've had more time than Mitsubishi and Saturn - its down to the managment and design team now.
No one will buy a Mercury because their cars are nothing but rebadged Fords, and even the Ford models themselves are nothing to take notice of. Hell, the only reason I even pay attention to Mercury commercials is because of that brunette that keeps popping up alongside the vehicles...
naggs @ Oct 11th 2007 7:00PM
those wheels ruin the whole car
CalGuy @ Oct 11th 2007 8:17PM
This is a nice car... but like every other vehicle that showed off a REALLY hot concept car.. this just seems sort of average. Not as low, normal small rims, wierd Korean-5-years-ago headlights etc. What is the logic around hot-ass concepts and milquetoast consumer product. The fantastically sexy new Ford Fiesta concepts will probably look like a Taurus by the time they dilute the passion. Why? People really want dull, I guess.