Gautam Sharma•12 Dec 2013
NEWS
Jaguar signs off design on new small sedan
Leaping cat's all-new BMW 3 Series/Mercedes C-Class rival is likely to debut at next September's Paris motor showJaguar has finalised the design of its upcoming BMW 3 Series/Mercedes C-Class rival, according to UK’s Autocar magazine.
Due to be revealed in late 2014, the styling of the compact Jag is expected to follow the theme established by the likes of the F-Type and C-X17 concept (pictured).
Autocar quoted Jaguar design director Ian Callum as saying the new small sedan (which could be dubbed XS) will “follow the current design trends of Jaguar” rather than setting a new template.
“This is not a time to start changing direction,” said Callum about the 3 Series fighter, which will be built in a new facility at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant. “We’ve established a beautiful design and we need to start using it on a family, and this will be part of the family.
Although adhering to the current styling philosophy, the compact sedan is expected to usher in a few key changes, such as a clamshell bonnet with twin power bulges, along with a taut muscular profile.
“UK buyers know what a Jaguar is and looks like, but we have a bigger job to do around the world,” Callum said. “We need to get the numbers out there and for people to be able to instantly recognise a Jaguar. The F-type is already helping this process.
“I think what we’ve ended up with will be a very strong contender in what, we’re under no illusions, is a very tough marketplace.”
The British publication suggests the small sedan, which is due on sale in 2015, could be revealed at next September’s Paris motor show in thinly veiled ‘concept’ form. The final showroom version could follow at the 2015 Geneva motor show.
As previously reported, the new model (codenamed X760) will be built around a new all-aluminium platform known as iQ(Al) – short for ‘intelligent aluminium architecture’ – that debuted in the C-X17 concept revealed at the recent Frankfurt motor show.
“It is a hugely flexible architecture and we will make full use of it, as there’s no point just doing one car,” said Callum. “There doesn’t just have to be one car of that size.”
Jaguar global brand director Adrian Hallmark had earlier said it was crucial for the company to “build the most advanced, most efficient, most refined car in the small-sedan segment. Not almost as good as, but better than the best in the world.”
This is backed up by a report by Bernstein Research, which quoted an anonymous Jaguar executive as saying “the best is the only choice as Jaguar is not viable at 60,000 units [per year]. If the X760 fails, it will be probably be the end for the brand.”
In addition to its cutting-edge lightweight platform, the new compact sedan will “be filled with the highest technology that anyone has ever brought to that segment,” according to Hallmark.
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Written byGautam Sharma
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