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Is the cat back? 10,000 orders placed for Jaguar XF
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click above for high-res gallery of the Jaguar XF
The Jaguar XF goes on sale worldwide in the UK, Europe and North America on March 10. A simultaneous debut in multiple markets is reportedly a first for Jaguar, as is this initial heavy demand for a brand new model. Automotive News reports that Jaguar has 10,000 customer deposits in hand for the new Jaguar XF, with 3,000 orders in the U.S. alone. Jaguar, a near constant fixture as Autoblog's Biggest Loser every month in our By The Numbers report of monthly sales figures, sold just 664 cars in the U.S. last month. We bet that come the end of March, it will no longer hold that dubious honor.
We knew demand would be big, as Jaguar dealers reported having to create informal waiting lists for the sports sedan, which will be sold with no mark ups on a first come, first serve basis. The successor to the stylish but slow-selling S-Type, the XF will start at $49,975 and come with a 300-hp V8 as standard. So far it's been a darling of the media, who, like us, claim that it has to be seen in person to appreciate the design. No one knows how many XF sedans Jaguar plans to sell annually, but we've heard estimates of 20,000 and Land Rover has additional production capacity if it's needed.
Seeing an automaker completely reverse its fortunes overnight is a rare sight, but we may witness that happen when the dust settles after March 10th. Thousands of XF sales will in turn mean more sales of the XK to new buyers who just dropped by a dealership to check out that "hot new sedan" everyone's talking about. Jaguar would be well advised to put a rush order on delivering the new XJ to market to complete its lineup's reinvention.
Gallery: 2009 Jaguar XF
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[Source: Automotive News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dude 1:55PM (2/18/2008)
Still looks more like a Hyundai than a Jag.
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Gregg 2:20PM (2/18/2008)
You've never seen it in the metal, or you wouldn't be saying such a thing.
Tony2X 2:06PM (2/18/2008)
The moment they bring the twin turbo 2.7 V6 TD to the US I'm going to the Jag dealer to place mine. My local dealer says they are looking at the possibility, although they would say that to keep my interest going.
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Jimesq 2:30PM (2/18/2008)
I love this new Jag. I would take it over any similarly priced Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, etc. I think it will sell very well. By itself I dont believe it is enough to turn the company around. A great start though.
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jwiltsh1 2:37PM (2/18/2008)
You do have to see it in the metal - as I have. I worked at Jaguar and know this vehicle will be a hit. I wonder how many they'll sell to people other than S-TYPE (nb it's all upper case Autoblog!) owners.
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Mercury Mountaineer 06 2:42PM (2/18/2008)
WOW 10,000 that's almost what Jaguar sells in a year!
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Tim 2:44PM (2/18/2008)
Admittedly, I've not seen the Jag "in the metal". Admittedly, I think it's likely a very good car. But it seems a little new Malibu/old Malibu to me. An amazing reinvention/redo, but worthy of sooooo much praise? It's similar to what happens to BMW every time a new 3 or 5-series comes out, except the opposite direction. "Ah... it's not what it used to be", they say. Well, is it the best on offer? If so, treat it as such. Likewise, is the Jaguar best-in-class? I doubt it. However, the hype (http://goodcarbadcar.blogspot.com/2007/10/endless-nissan-gt-r-hype.html) and praise surrounding the car would lead you to believe it's the best thing since sliced bread. It was the same with the Malibu, good cars in their own right; worthy of consumer's money, but the best?
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The Doctor 2:53PM (2/18/2008)
It's a shame that the health and safety regulations wouldn't allow the headlamps that were found on the C-XF but looks aren't everything. I think the current S-Class looks like it was styled by SsangYong but that hasn't stopped it being a success...
Other than that, I think the XF has a lot going for it (although Jaguar really need to make some new engines...)
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phil 2:56PM (2/18/2008)
no mark-up?? Wow, take that, dodge challenger and chevy camaro.
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Kevin 3:15PM (2/18/2008)
It is true, you have to see it in the metal! It makes the XJ look almost prehistoric by comparison and compliments the new XK perfectly. A mfr. rep at the dealer show said "no all wheel drive" as the various traction control gizmos allow for excellent traction under any circumstance. On that day, we had a bad ice storm here in the northeast and everyone who drove it in the ice said all-wheel-drive isn't needed.
Of course, a salesman will say anything, but I'll be test driving one up my steep driveway in an ice storm before I plunk down for one. Also no wood steering wheels, the J-gate is history and kiss the leaper bonnet ornament goodbye. Is it really a Jaguar now; have they beaten the "Jaguariness" out of it? Hopefully not and I hope the car is a smashing success because everything else is just to bloody boring and looks the same.
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notYou 3:13PM (2/18/2008)
Sorry y'all, I just saw it "in metal" at the recent 2008 NADA (North American Dealers Association) convention in San Francisco and, to put it mildly, I was underwhelmed.
Just as a test, as my girlfriend of 13 years and I were walking down Embarcadero where Jag/Land Rover were holding a "release party", I pointed at the XF (with tacky LED uplighting underneath) and said "What do you think of that car?" without letting on what it was. She approached it from the back, up the rear 3/4 view, along the side when - I kid you not - she proclaimed "It looks like a Ford". Once she got around to the nose she commented that she liked the grill, but the headlights looked "weird" and the creases in the hood looked like "it's trying too hard".
I pointed out "it's the new Jag" and her nose wrinkled. She asked where the leaping cat was and I pointed to the new circle emblem in the grill which she didn't like at all. She did note that the outline of the side windows from the profile appeared "jag like", but more like an imitation than legitimate design inspiration.
Her last comment, posed as a question: "That's the replacement for the X-Type, right?". Nope, it's a replacement for the S-Type, honey. Here response - "It looks like they cut a lot of corners." - ouch. I pointed out that the entire was sumptuous and the cool "power up" process that the controls go through and, to be blunt, she didn't care: "They should have made it look better".
And this from a gal who loves their "gorgeous" advertising campaign in all her fashionista rags (ugh). She keeps asking me where the "gorgeous" jags are, and I keep showing her the new XK and (now) XF and she thinks I'm wrong.
Last point - I showed her the XF prototype when we got home as a comparison and she said (sigh) "Now that looks hot."
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Seoultrain 3:32PM (2/18/2008)
holy crap, 13 years!?
zoomzoomr 5:13PM (3/13/2008)
Is it an indicator of your 13 year relationship that your nickname is notYou? :)
notYou 3:55PM (2/18/2008)
sorry - meant to say:
Here response... = Her Response...
I pointed out that the entire was sumptuous... = I pointed out that the interior was sumptuous...
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Seoultrain 3:20PM (2/18/2008)
I think the worst thing that happened to this car was the concept. It looked so good that this is ugly by comparison. However, to people who don't follow every development in the car industry and then some, this is a beautiful car.
I can only hope the same fate doesn't befall the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
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tekdemon 3:49PM (2/18/2008)
The styling really doesn't work for me up front. While I guess 10,000 orders is better than nothing, that's worldwide....for their supposedly mass market luxury model.
The XK is attractive though.
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British_Rover 4:04PM (2/18/2008)
Ehh I don't know how much faith I put in the opinion of a woman who has let herself be led along for 13 years.
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pacman 9:21AM (2/19/2008)
I like it but it doesnt look like a Jag. Maybe thats a good thing, Jags dont exactly sell well.
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Dinger 6:26PM (2/18/2008)
Seriously,
http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Default.aspx?mcat=148203
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Rachel 8:37PM (2/18/2008)
I'm not super into cars (unlike most people here, I'm sure), but I am into living well. I'm not normally much of a car guy, but I saw the XF featured on JuliB.com, and it definitely caught my eye!
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