Within a month or two the ink will have dried on the sale of Jaguar (and Land Rover) to India's Tata, thus unraveling two more of Ford's trans-Atlantic alliances. The timing is comic, as it coincides with almost the exact moment Jaguar has gotten its **** together. The new XF sedan goes on sale in March as Jag's first no-excuses contender in the mid-size luxury sedan segment since the MkII of 1959-'67. Born of the company's deep soul searching and back-against-the-wall determination, the XF is the best-handling Jaguar of all time. You're welcome, Tata...
The sale of Jag really does seem funny. Earlier, in the Ford PAG offices... "Sir! We've made a compelling automobile that's set to reinvigorate the whole brand!" "Eeew! Pack up your crap, Bill - you're moving to India!"
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I still wish they had kept the XF styling closer to the concept's. Just the headlights would have made this a much more attractive car. Right now you can see a little bit of its S-Type lineage in the lights. None-the-less, it seems to be a great car. WTG Ford, sell the brand right when the make a car that might sell. Hopefully Jag won't make their cars look exactly like this for the next 40 years though.
On second thought, lets not go to The Car Lounge. Tis a silly place. "And this is the Lamborghini Murcialago SV... which is as mad and wonderful as the president of the country where it was made"
Jaguar has just given Tata a respectable car go figure.
but will people walk into a Jaguar outfit? I swear, a lot of people might actually prefer the XJR to the 7er or S-class if they actually drove the mother****er.
I know I like the XK8 over the 650i after driving it.
"....in the mid-size luxury sedan segment since the MkII of 1959-'67"
The Mk2 was considered "midsize"?
I'm sure you know all this, but I wrote that because it was Jag's medium-executive offering. And although it was way smaller than the Mk VIII-IX-X of that period and feels positively tiny next to the mid-size sedans of today, it was a pioneer in that sport-sedan class now occupied (roughly) by the 5-series and XF. We're probably splitting hairs, but I'm not sure you could call it a modern-day 3-series.
I'm sure you know all this, but I wrote that because it was Jag's medium-executive offering. And although it was way smaller than the Mk VIII-IX-X of that period and feels positively tiny next to the mid-size sedans of today, it was a pioneer in that sport-sedan class now occupied (roughly) by the 5-series and XF. We're probably splitting hairs, but I'm not sure you could call it a modern-day 3-series.
Really I'd say the original "S" type (very heavily based on the Mk2) and the later 420 revision would be closer to the midsize market. Really the mk1 and mk2 were not playing in the same market as the modern BMW 5-series market in my opinion. I do feel it is the equivelant to the 3-series of today's market (with obvious British vs Germanic differences to approach).
The 1962 Ford Cortina, which would be the equivalent to a Honda Accord today, was 169 inches long. A Jag MkII was almost a foot longer. The MkVIII was another foot and a half longer.
I think the idea of a MkII as being size-comparable to the 5er is not entirely unreasonable.
The continual references to potty humor and female body parts in this review, however, puts me in mind of a Friday-era Robert Heinlein. And the assertion that this is the best-handling Jaguar in history will come as a vivid shock to XJR-15 owners. Oh well, you pays your staques, you gets your writing.
He stood the furious Foe, the timid Friend/The damning Critic, half approving Wit/ The Coxcomb hit, or fearing to be hit;/Laugh’d at the Loss of Friends he never had,/The dull, the proud, the wicked, and the mad.
Really I'd say the original "S" type (very heavily based on the Mk2) and the later 420 revision would be closer to the midsize market. Really the mk1 and mk2 were not playing in the same market as the modern BMW 5-series market in my opinion. I do feel it is the equivelant to the 3-series of today's market (with obvious British vs Germanic differences to approach).
Modified by seminole_kev at 3:48 PM 2-25-2008
Those cars had the same wheelbases, doors, hoods, and roofs, so even though the S-type is a few inches longer, I think it's safe to say it was still in the same general segment; it was planned as the MkII replacement. But I can understand what you're saying, since the S-type was intended as a slightly more upscale MkII. To me, however, the MkII is the icon, and the car that people know better, which is why I referenced it rather than the S-type/420.
The 1962 Ford Cortina, which would be the equivalent to a Honda Accord today, was 169 inches long. A Jag MkII was almost a foot longer. The MkVIII was another foot and a half longer.
I think the idea of a MkII as being size-comparable to the 5er is not entirely unreasonable.
The continual references to potty humor and female body parts in this review, however, puts me in mind of a Friday-era Robert Heinlein. And the assertion that this is the best-handling Jaguar in history will come as a vivid shock to XJR-15 owners. Oh well, you pays your staques, you gets your writing.
Those cars had the same wheelbases, doors, hoods, and roofs, so even though the S-type is a few inches longer, I think it's safe to say it was still in the same general segment; it was planned as the MkII replacement. But I can understand what you're saying, since the S-type was intended as a slightly more upscale MkII. To me, however, the MkII is the icon, and the car that people know better, which is why I referenced it rather than the S-type/420.
Fair enough. The S type/420 was more the "Executive" version of the Mk2 with a larger trunk and nicer interior. *edit - yeash, completely forgot to mention the IRS that it received versus the mk2. I'lll blame it on the lack of sleep I've had the last few days.
We had another pre-production car at out dealership today, and the more I see it the more I like it. It looks so much better than a Lexus GS, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class or Audi A6. Over 400 hp for $63,000? It would be a tough choice between this and an IS-F, but the Jaguar would win out for me I think.
I can't wait for it to be here -- 1 more week! BTW, thanks for the mention of Palm Beach! People love their Jags here, especially after they buy them from us!
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