Feann Torr•11 Feb 2013
NEWS
Jaguar pins small car range on new platform
Jag's rival to the BMW 3 Series will be based on a brand-new platform, but even a concept version won't be seen before 2014Jaguar is forging ahead with a new platform that will underpin a range of new models, including the highly anticipated XS sedan - a BMW 3 Series rival - and a new crossover vehicle.
Andy Goss, President of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) North America, told motoring.com.at the Chicago motor show its new product onslaught will hinge on a new platform and that the luxury car maker was "investing a substantial amount of money on one platform of which a lot of Jaguar products will be based".
Previously believed to be based on a heavily modified version of the XJ's PLA (Premium Lightweight Architecture), it's now clear Jaguar has an all-new platform for its next generation vehicles.
Mr Goss says the new platform will help the UK-based brand take the fight to its German rivals, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and the first port of call will be a vehicle that slots in underneath the XF, namely the XS small sedan.
"You know if we want to try and ape the German brands, we recognise the model ranges they've got and that [small sedan is] certainly on the agenda. It's a big market for us," said Mr Goss.
Asked point blank if we'll see a concept version of Jaguar's new XS small sedan in the next year or so, Goss responded: "No. you won't see a concept in the next year."
The US Jaguar Land Rover chief said that it already has 5 Series and 7 Series rivals in the form of the XF and XJ, and that a new vehicle, expected to be the XS, is a no brainer, particularly with Indian parent company Tata's financial backing.
"The question is, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series... You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out it's a great likelihood.
"Ratan Tata has enabled the company to spend its own money and enable people to be ambitious," explained Mr Goss, taking a subtle dig at former owner Ford.
"Now there's a clear path, there's a long term view, there's a different culture as a consequence of that, and some of these vehicles could not have been developed before.
"With the type of product cadence we've got, effectively every brand will bring out a car a year. So every six months there'll be a Jaguar or Land Rover from now on and that was a pipe dream before, now it's true," said Mr Goss.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Tags
Jaguar
Car News
Sedan
Performance Cars
Prestige Cars
Written byFeann Torr
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
Related articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Love every move.
Buy it. Sell it.Love it.
®Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Scan to download the carsales app
Want more info? Here’s our app landing page
App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo
are trademarks of Google LLC.