Jaguar planning Boxster rival, XF coupe and cabrio
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged
Tata is looking to move quickly to expand Jaguar's range of saloons, and why not with such a legacy of sports cars and world-beaters from which to draw? Jaguar became a household name due in large part to racing successes with such cars as the legendary XK120, C-Type and D-Type. More recently in the '90s, the British automaker has tested the exotic waters with its slinky XJ220 supercar. Rumors of a less expensive sports car in the vein of a Porsche Boxster are currently filtering out from dealerships that have spoken with the marque's new management, along with convertible and coupe versions of the popular XF sedan, which has already served to spark a renewed interest in the brand.
Considering that the X-Type is largely considered a colossal failure, don't expect another low-cost sedan. And, though some of its competitors (BMW, we're looking at you) seem to think selling as many SUVs as possible is still a good thing, Tata also owns Land Rover and doesn't want its two iconic British automakers to compete with one another. Sounds rational.
Gallery: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BoxerFanatic 2:14PM (11/10/2008)
If it is going to be based on current Jaguar platforms, the XF's specifically...
Then wouldn't it be more like a Z4 competitor?
If it isn't mid-engined, can it really be a Boxster/Cayman competitor?
I suppose so, by market segment, but technologically, not as much. Mid-engined and boxer powered will still put me in a Porsche before a Jaguar, although I do like Jaguars, too.
The classic XJ13 and more modern XJR15 were both nicer looking "supercar" concepts than the pancake-flat XJ220.
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Alex 2:22PM (11/10/2008)
They make no mention of using a currently existing platform. Granted it is vastly less expensive to go that route, but Tata may have other plans if they were to roll out a new platform.
If they were to create a mid-engine platform, they could conceivably make one that is modular enough to underpin a cayman fighter and a 911 fighter. Both of which Tata has stated that they would like to run a rival against.
I'm a little disheartened right now through. One of the most celebrated car marques has been purchased by one of the most successful Indian companies on the brink of becoming a major global play right at a time when the world economy took a massive nose dive.
I just hope that Ratan and Co. know what they are doing and don't get in over their heads.
RG 2:28PM (11/10/2008)
So you're suggesting that the Boxster/Cayman has no competition because its mid-engined?
I would disagree and think that the segment with the Boxster, Z4, SLK and now TT-S and -RS is one of the more competitive segments in the marketplace and while every single one (other than the Boxster) is front engined, I would not hesitate in saying that they are all vying for about the same shopper.
I for one have always frothed at the mouth at the thought of a modern day E-type. And with Jaguar tossing aside its staid styling elements I think the time is right for them to do so and really make their mark. However, they cannot be lazy in development and must realize that this car, given its intended competition, cannot rest on its laurels and its badge, because its surrounded by blue chip luxury names that actually perform.
BoxerFanatic 3:58PM (11/10/2008)
RG,
I did NOT say that.
Read more carefully.
I differentiated between price segment competition, and technical layout.
You are comparing cars based on their sports car classification, and their price segment, and loosely on both.
The TT is not a two seat car, nor RWD. The SLK doesn't have a manual transmission option, IIRC.
They may be cross shopped by people on price and general role. A car like Jaguar's still-born F-type concept, would compete in general role, and price class.
But most closely with BMW Z4, I would think, once drivetrain/chassis layout comes into play, if someone were to be that specific. I am that specific.
The SLK, S2000, Z4, 370Z coupe and convertible, and maybe even the base Corvette are all front engine, 2-seat, sports cars.
The Boxster/Cayman, and Elise/Exige are mid engined RWD Sports Cars. There is a distinction there. I even make the distinction between Lotus' transverse layout, and Porsche's longitudinal layout, although functionally, they end up behaving relatively similarly with rear weight bias. That is different than a front engine'd car, regardless of similarity of price.
And if Jaguar builds a front engined 2 door (they haven't specified even 2-seats... this could end up being a G37 Convertible competitor, and thus not a true sports car at all.) It would probably be front engined.
Jaguar has not built many mid-engined cars, prototypes or production. Their history is front engined RWD premium vehicles, and that is where they are likely to stay, especially avoiding the large costs of ground-up development of a mid-engined chassis for just that car. Their drivetrains and chassis families are already front engined, and it makes sense for them to stay that way. There is NOTHING WRONG with that.
But that isn't the same as a mid-engined car.
Then why does the first car in the headline comparison, become a mid-engined car?
It would more likely be cross-shopped with the SLK or Z4 series cars. Not to say that people won't cross shop with porsche... but those who know sports cars, know the difference, and the difference is larger between Jag and Porsche than Jag and Mercedes or BMW, Honda, or even Nissan.
And for someone who wants a mid-engined car, a Jaguar won't compete with Porsche, unless they do come out with a mid-engined car, with all of the development costs that that entails, from a brand with only front engined cars currently.
You guys need to get as specific as I am getting, before tearing into my comparisons.
Mobius_1 4:38PM (11/10/2008)
Maybe it could be based on the Tata Nano? :P
Duders 12:48AM (11/11/2008)
From what I've heard (which is quite a lot), the small roadster is going to be more in vein of the older e-type. Two seat roadster, probably powered by the 3.0 V6. I haven't heard anything about a convertible XF, but the coupe XF is a sure thing from what I understand.
I've also heard that once jaguar releases the smaller roadster platform, they'll be releasing a small sedan based on the roadster platform to fill a spot in the market after the x-types life cycle. My guess is they'd do this because after developing a chassis they're not going to just use it in such a small niche and waste money on all that development.
Just some thoughts and rumors.
Dasupersprint 2:28PM (11/10/2008)
What's the point of a XF Coupe? Isn't there a XK for that?
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Quattroporte 2:45PM (11/10/2008)
An XF coupe would better compete with the Audi S5 and the new Merecedes E-Class Coupe (formerly CLK).
Quattroporte 2:53PM (11/10/2008)
If TTAC's recent article about Boxster engine failures is as bad as it sounds and gains more publicity, Jaguar may not find it too difficult to compete with Porsche.
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Quattroporte 2:54PM (11/10/2008)
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wild-ass-rumor-of-the-day-porsche-boxster-engine-failures/
Eek 3:54PM (11/10/2008)
I was just thinking the other day how I'd like to see a XF Coupe. Here's hoping the rumors are true.
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Amien 4:18PM (11/10/2008)
Damn, these TATA guys are stepping up. I was a bit worried about how the Jaguar brand would do in their hands but now i can see how they've made their money. If anything, im atleast really happy that someone seems to be breathing life into one of my all time favourite marquees.
Cheers!
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Scott 5:17PM (11/10/2008)
I agree, if Tata can pull this off and make a proper sports car that can compete with a boxster and maybe even have the handsome looks of previous Jags, they will have a hit in my books. That being said it is going to have look really good, go really fast, be really cheap or maybe a combination of all three for them to actually sell in this market.
P.V. 6:52PM (11/10/2008)
Agreed. On MT, it also mentioned that TATA rejected a proposal to give Jaguar an SUV. TATA made the right move, as there is Land Rover for real SUVs (not crossovers (yet, not counting the LRX/LR1)) and decided not to saturate Jaguar with SUVs ([cough] BMWMercedesLexusInfinitiPorsche [/cough]).
Mehul Kamdar 6:51PM (11/10/2008)
Tata's decision to build a smaller coupe is, most probably, in order to widen the market and make the Jaguar range better suited to the narrower and more crowded Asian roads, especially in India and China. That part of the world has been somewhat less affected than the West has in the current economic mess and Tata are, almost certainly, trying to capitalize on this fact and offer something that makes better sense for those markets. This is a very positive thing - Jaguar would sell enough smaller cars to stay profitable and when the West recovers, the Tatas would be able to tailor-make bigger models for sale over here.
Those who were skeptical about the sale of Jaguar to an Indian business need to consider the fact that the very company that theyw ere skeptical about is taking care to put its money into it and keep it running, offering newer models and developing the range to a considerably greater extent than previous owners bothered to do. Give credit where it is due - the Tatas are putting their hard-earned money where their mouths are.
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Avinash machado 5:18AM (11/11/2008)
Tata could also obtain engines and platforms for Jaguar from their partner Fiat. Imagine a Jaguar based on a Alfa or Maserati platform or with Alfa or Maserati engines.
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