Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 10) 10 • NOVEMBER 10, 2008 Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV Ratan Tata plans to revive the Jaguar brand and keep moving it upmarket — a reversal from the effort of prior owner Ford Motor Co. to build volume. Diana T. Kurylko dkurylko@crain.com Tata Motors Ltd. is solidifying its product strategy for Jaguar: A sports car is high on the list, but Tata is giving a firm “no” to an SUV. And dealers have little chance of getting an entryluxury car to replace the X-Type. Three new vehicles for ailing Jaguar “are under very serious consideration” by the new owner, says a dealer who has met with Tata CEO Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata plans to revive the brand and keep moving it upmarket — a reversal from the effort of prior owner Ford Motor Co. to build volume. The most likely new vehicles include a derivative of the new XF sedan — a coupe, a roadster or both — and a lightweight sports car. At a meeting in New York with Jaguar executives, dealers were told that a third vehicle, a luxury car, is on the drawing board but were not given details. “These are under very serious consideration,” says Dick Fitzpatrick, owner of Crest Jaguar of Woodbridge in Woodbridge, Conn. “They will move fast.” The three vehicles don’t include the replacement for the XJ, which was under development by Ford and will land at dealerships in about 14 months, says Fitzpatrick. ‘Less Teutonic’ Jaguar dealers have been asking for a lightweight sports car to compete with the Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4. Ken Gorin, owner of The Collection in Coral Gables, Fla., says the roadster also would compete with the Porsche 911 but says “it will be more emotional and less Teutonic.” “It’s a little bit shorter than the current XK — an XK without a back seat,” says Gorin, who also heads the Jaguar dealer council. The roadster would be positioned below the XK, which starts at about $79,000. There have been reports that Ratan Tata has nixed a Jaguar SUV because it would compete with Land Rover, which Tata also owns. Tata would not confirm that. Gorin says the SUV was more of a dealer request than “anything that Jag’s future Tata’s product plans come into focus What’s coming January 2009: New V-8 engines Mid-2009: Supercharged XF-R 2010: Redesigned XJ After 2011: XF coupe, roadster or both; small lightweight sports car; unnamed luxury car What’s not coming SUV Entry-luxury smaller car was in Jaguar’s mind.” An SUV wouldn’t fit the vision for Jaguar that Ratan Tata has outlined for dealers — moving the brand upmarket as a true luxury player, says Gorin. The redesigned XJ, due as a 2010 model, has been praised by dealers who have seen prototypes. “It picks up from the XF design language and makes a statement for a flagship,” says Gorin. X-Type successor? Some dealers are lobbying for a $40,000 car to compete with the BMW 3 series. Such a vehicle would replace Jaguar’s X-Type, which was axed last December. The X-Type was Jaguar’s volume vehicle. But the sedan, based on the Ford Mondeo platform, failed miserably. Most dealers ran out of inventory this spring just as the XF arrived in showrooms. Without the X-Type volume, Jaguar sales are slumping. Although Jaguar’s estimated U.S. sales of 12,575 units this year are down only 3.6 percent from 2007, they are off sharply from earlier years. In 2003, for instance, Jaguar sold 46,180 units in the United States through October. “Personally, I believe in the $40,000 segment for aspiring customers and clients,” says Rob Elder, co-president of the Elder Automotive Group, which owns three Jaguar stores in Michigan and one in Florida. “Of course, you want the moon. There are things coming very fast for Jaguar.” c http://radarprofit.com http://radarprofit.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Life at 11 million: Slash, rethink The options: Bailout or disaster Can Toyota reheat the frozen Tundra? Chrysler dealers cheer halt to merger talk VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show BMW boosts dealers' year-end ad money Mercedes' $220 million flagship Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold Mercedes will kill CLK, add larger coupe, convertible Mitsubishi reclaims its finance business Toyota's Esmond to speak at congress Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market Cash burn rates threaten GM, Ford GMAC: We're nobody's captive As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV U.S. aid is needed now, but not to help Cerberus They are too big to fail Why should we help GM and Chrysler? First and foremost, you must be flexible U.S. trade policy gives it all away To the Editor: A rough ride is nothing new for autos Dealer's politics were pertinent Chrysler's 1st electric: Probably a cargo van Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too Adding up the tab for fuel economy Camaro Black: Eye-catching, affordable and available Honda sees green in Civic HFP's street performance Honda offers peek at future Fit Ford F-150 Raptor flies off-road Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom Report: Toyota plans $5,000 car Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 Report: Past-due subprime loans jump Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card Study: Car buyers turn green for different reasons Thanks, buddy Hyundai helps Dealers Metaldyne offers pennies to bondholders Obituaries Personnel As expected, Oct. sales sank Another Chinese automaker plans Mexico factory Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels Industry pal, foe vie for key post in Congress Industry expects more activism from D.C. N.A. output falls 19.9% Toyota moves in striking distance of GM's U.S. sales crown Going, going . . . An ex-GM exec's view: It's going to get nasty Sex, Nazis, chicken and BMW: A scandal that puts fiction writers to shame Recession rips up roadster market Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' Want to boost mpg? Turn up the heat on AC Cutting energy loss: A nibble here, a nibble there ... Carbon slashes weight, but it's still too pricey Carmakers shift to gears in search of mpg gains Natural gas draws interest as alternative fuel Friction? Ay, there's the rub Electric for a week Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show (Page 3) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 4) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 5) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 6) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 7) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 8) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 9) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 10) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 11) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 12) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 13) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 14) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 15) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record (Page 16) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 17) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 18) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 19) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 20) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 21) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22a) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22b) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22c) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22d) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22e) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22f) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22g) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22h) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22i) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22j) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22k) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22l) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 23) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom (Page 24) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 (Page 25) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card (Page 26) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Hyundai helps (Page 27) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealers (Page 28) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 29) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 31) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 32) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 33) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 34) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 35) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 36) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As expected, Oct. sales sank (Page 37) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels (Page 38) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 39) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 40) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - N.A. output falls 19.9% (Page 41) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 42) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 43) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 44)
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