February
5 2008 Jaguar
runs model plans past Tata
Jaguar
is eyeing a significant expansion of its model range with at least three new models,
after its sell-off by Ford, most likely to Tata Motors of India. Executives
and engineers are eyeing a new GBP40,000 two-seat sports car, a two- door coupe
version of the XF saloon and most radically, a four-door version of the XK luxury
coupe. None of
the three models are officially signed off, but all three have been presented
to Tata Motors' management and will be key new programmes for the Indian automaker
to evaluate and decide whether to invest. Privately,
insiders favour the two-seat sports car, dubbed the F-type, as the highest priority.
It would be pitched against the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Porsche Boxster. Although
Jag has the concept clear, it hasn't yet decided on the industrial strategy for
manufacture. Engineers favour the car as an aluminium variant of the XK, other
executives favourite it as a steel variant of the new XF. The
alloy F-type would be four inches (100mm) shorter than today's XK, sit on a narrower
track and be designed with an engine bay capable of taking both V6 and V8 engines.
The V6 would be the volume seller and the V8 reserved for high end performance
versions. Jaguar
has been interested in a two-seat sportscar since 2000, when it showed the F-type
concept at Detroit. But
the handsome design wasn't based on a particular platform and Jag couldn't industrialise
the design. It eventually turned into an alloy, mid- engine design that was canned
when Jag hit financial trouble four years ago. Easier
to get into production is the two-door, XF coupe. Models of this car have been
built at Jag's Whitley advanced design studio in Coventry, based around the two-inch
lower roof-line of the C-XF concept. Apart from this detail, the XF coupe is understood
to share its design and components with the XF saloon. Unlikely
is a soft top convertible version. Engineering studies suggest that the weight
of added platform strengthening would be too high and the size of the fabric roof
needed too difficult to engineer. Also
vying for future investment is a long-wheelbase version of the XK, extended along
the lines of Aston Martin's DB9-based Rapide. The
XK four door would have an extra pair of rear doors and a small rear cabin, compromised
to keep the XK's elegant roofline. It would also compete against Porsche's forthcoming
Panamera and high-end Merc CLS models, as well as the Rapide. Supporters
of this design believe it to be an excellent brand extension, but a secondary
priority to the F-type two-seater. Room
for the swooping four-door XK in Jag's range would be opened up when the re-skinned
XJ, aka project X351, debuts in late 2009 for sale in early 2010. Essentially
a new 'top-hat' on the alloy XJ chassis, it would get a major interior rework
to squeeze in more legroom without having to extend the current XJ's footprint. Similar
clever re-packaging has made the new XF roomier than the outgoing S-type, even
though it shares the same wheelbase. Also
in Jag's new product pipeline is a 500bhp-plus XKR-R range-topper and designs
for a crossover XF. Designs
of the latter model have split Jaguar, with US dealers clamouring for the model,
while Coventry high-ups prefer to leave 4x4s/SUVs to Land_Rover. | 