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Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake

History has a way of repeating itself, especially in the auto industry. When Jaguar was owned by Ford, the British brand attempted to field a competitor for the BMW 3 Series, called the X-Type. Based on the bones of a Ford Mondeo, it aped the styling of Jaguar's flagship model, the XJ, while borrowing liberally from the Ford parts bin. That was 2001.
Now, in 2013, Jaguar is planning a new 3 Series challenger based on the platform previewed by the C-X17 Concept, while Ford is attempting to take the latest Mondeo upmarket. The moves have both brands recognizing where, why, and how the X-Type failed. "It didn't look mature or powerful or anything. It was just a car," Jaguar's current head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, told PistonHeads. Basing the X-Type on a front-drive car while giving it styling that was meant for a rear-driver lead to proportions that "were plainly wrong," Thomson told PH. Ford's European head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, added that the X-Type was "a fake Jaguar, because every piece I touch is Ford."
For what it's worth, the X-Type's successor in the segment will sport rear-drive, with plenty of input from Ian Callum. Thomson described the new model, which would challenge the 3 Series as having, "Big wheels right to the ends of the car, low bonnet, short overhangs, very low cabins." Sounds good to us.

Jaguar XE promises to net 'over 75 mpg,' just not for us [w/video]

With around a month away from its world debut on September 8, Jaguar continues to issue a constant drip of updates about its upcoming XE compact luxury sedan that's aiming to take on the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Where the company's last bit of info focused on the car's suspension setup, this time Jag's putting the spotlight on the new model's modular platform and making some big promises about it, too. How big? Try over 75 miles per gallon big.
That's the headline figure that Jaguar is claiming for its new sedan, but it's keeping mum on just what powertrain will realize that figure. Furthermore, that result is on the European test cycle, which is more lenient than America's EPA testing regime. In any case, when the XE hits the road, Jag says it will be the most efficient vehicle from the company, ever.
That's thanks in no small part to the aluminum-intensive monocoque chassis underpinning the sedan. It's constructed from a new grade of the lightweight metal called RC 5754 that uses a high portion of recycled material. "The Jaguar XE body uses over 75-percent aluminum content, which far exceeds any other car in its class. This gives us a body structure with unrivaled low weight: it's light but also immensely strong with extremely high levels of torsional stiffness," said Dr. Mark White, Jaguar Chief Technical Specialist; Body Complete.

Jaguar F-Pace 300 Sport, 400 Sport create new trims below SVR

Jaguar has introduced two new F-Pace trims in the UK, one of which we expect to make it our way. Dubbed the F-Pace 300 Sport and F-Pace 400 Sport, they also welcome Amazon Alexa integration to the whole F-Pace range. Both Sport trims come standard with gloss black roof rails, privacy glass, and the Black Pack that dresses the badges, bumpers and intakes, sills and greenhouse trim in gloss black. A set of 21-inch wheels is also standard, the Style 5105 design also in gloss black. A 22-inch Style 1020 forged wheel in either gloss black or with satin black inserts or gloss silver with contrasting inserts. Inside, the Sports get Ebony Suedecloth headliners lording over Windsor leather slimline performance seats and Satin Charcoal Ash veneers, plus premium cabin lighting with 30 available colors. The F-Pace 300 Sport is powered by the automaker's Ingenium 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel mild hybrid with 296 horsepower (300 PS) and 479 pound-feet of torque. This is the one we don't expect to make land in the U.S. The F-Pace 400 Sport would be the one for us, assuming it leaps the Atlantic. The F-Pace Sport models follow the creation of the E-Pace Sport last year, and that trim on the smaller crossover didn't come to America, hence the uncertainty. Back to the matter: The F-Pace Sport 400 is powered by the Ingenium 3.0-liter straight-six gasoline mild hybrid with 395 hp (400 PS) and 406 lb-ft. Prices in the UK start at GBP62,250 ($80,900 U.S.) for the D300 AWD Auto 300 Sport, and GBP68,520 ($89,050 U.S.) for the P400 AWD Auto 400 Sport. The duo add Alexa voice control to their infotainment suites, the ability to request anything online or change the temperature in your second bedroom at home now officially an F-Pace thing. Jaguar says it will add Alexa integration to every F-Pace globally that's fitted with Pivi Pro Infotaiment via an over-the-air update. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now also standard.   Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.