Automotive Trends

The last time Jaguar offered a compact sport sedan it was dubbed X-type. Banish any thoughts of that all-wheel drive only sedan, which featured retro styling and take a look at Jaguar’s new 2016 XE. This sedan sports modern rear-wheel drive proportions with taut athletic styling. Aimed at German rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, this all new Jag features lightweight aluminum architecture and nearly 50:50 weight distribution. Offered with rear-wheel drive and AWD, initially the car will utilize the marque’s existing supercharged 3-liter V6, which produces 340 hp. and 332 ft-lbs of torque, which should be good for a run to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. There’s no evidence that the XE will offer a manual transmission, but it will offer an 8-speed automatic with Jaguar’s signature retractable rotary shifter. Enthusiasts won’t be able to help but notice that the same engine is offered in the F-type with a manual transmission, so we can hope Jaguar will give buyers the luxury of choice in the way they shift their transmissions. For now, we wait with anticipation to see just how good this promising sedan is.

Jaguar’s X-Type Proves That Good Things Can Come In Small Packages

     When it comes down to it, the auto business is actually quite simple. Develop a product that can be sold for a profit and then sell as much of that product as you can for the largest possible profit. It only gets complicated when a company hits a “glass ceiling” of sorts. Like in biology, the automotive market has a carrying capacity. In other words, there are only so many consumers who can afford to drop at least $50,000 on their vehicles. And during the late 90’s Jaguar showrooms offered few choices, and none of them even close to the magic $30k mark. Jaguar decided to try something it had never done before. Combine all of the style, elegance, comfort, and prestige that make a Jaguar desirable in a package that could be sold for under 30 grand. The X-Type is that product and though its success in the sales department is not the subject of this article, its success as an entry-level luxury car is. Read more…