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Jaguar's all-new, compact sports saloon, which goes on sale next summer,
will be called the Jaguar X-TYPE, the company announced today. Previously
known only by its engineering codename, X400, the four door X-TYPE is
Jaguar's first entrant in the highly competitive, fast growing compact
saloon segment, where it will compete with the Mercedes Benz C class, Audi
A4 and BMW 3 series.
All wheel drive! For the first time on a Jaguar, X-TYPE features all-wheel drive as standard. Powering the car are V6 engines in either 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre form, both derived from the AJ-V6 power train already successfully proven in the larger Jaguar S-TYPE saloon. Despite its smaller proportions, it shares its big brothers' styling influences and generous space in the cabin and boot. New Market The new X-TYPE, positioned below Jaguar's S-TYPE saloon range in both size and price, will attract a new generation of customers to the Jaguar marque. "Customers for the X-TYPE typically will be younger than traditional Jaguar buyers with notably different needs. We also expect X-TYPE to attract far more female buyers," said Jonathan Browning, Jaguar's Managing Director. "They may be young professionals, perhaps starting a family, whose cars have to fulfil a multitude of different roles - lengthy motorway trips on business, energetic leisure activities with friends and even the weekly supermarket run. But these are people who require a car to have discernible style and individuality too. With its unique blend of style and practicality, the X-TYPE fulfils all these needs." Doubling Sales The new X-TYPE establishes Jaguar as a four model line company, accelerating Jaguar's transformation from a niche player into a major competitor in the premium car segment. The smaller, more affordable X-TYPE complements and extends Jaguar's existing range of XJ Series and S-TYPE saloons and XK Series sports cars. Fuelled by the success of S-TYPE, Jaguar today is selling at record levels around the globe. This year, Jaguar plans to sell over 85,000 cars worldwide. When the new X-TYPE saloon range is in full production, it is expected to more than double Jaguar's total sales. On Sale Summer 2001 Designed and developed at Jaguar's Whitley Engineering Centre in Coventry, the new Jaguar X-TYPE will be produced at the former Ford plant at Halewood on Merseyside. The new plant is currently undergoing a major redevelopment programme in preparation for the start of production in the first quarter of next year. The new car goes on sale in the UK and the rest of Europe in the middle of next year, with other market launches following progressively during the second half of 2001. Details of the new Jaguar X-TYPE will be revealed early next year. Links
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