RE: Jaguar's Triple Sports Car Treat

[snaelro]

P9UNK said:

yes but 2003 were the boom years for Western economies, you can't really compare in the way you have, interesting as the figures are. For me it sounds very positive and exciting for Jaguar.

well, same for today when they announce sales growth in china or russia. it is to compare with the market growth itself, or the competition. JLR did something like +45% in china last year. BMW for example +85%

[sunsurfer]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the F-type concept?
It looks bulbous and pudgy - not good things in a Jaguar or sportscar

[MX5guy]

pb63 said:

What made a huge success out of it???

At least they are trying, and in trying we get more interesting cars like the 1M which I personally think is a fantastic car. And why not compare it to the E30 M3? That's not a mistake at all. Look at the coverage they are getting and how quickly they are selling it. That's being clever.

I don't understand the idea that you make something great and successful...but then you leave it alone as a memory. A more Japanese approach would be better to strive for continual improvement. Look at the Nissan's GTR for one.

Edited by pb63 on Friday 1st July 16:24

The problem is they'd then get accused of living in the past, never doing anything new etc. In the past it was much easier to make a car stand out compared to others, because they could be rapidly improved due to technology, and they had far less restrictions on them. Obviously it is possible to create great new cars, but I think they should be designed for the time they're in, and evolve. Very few companies sucessfully sell cars "copied" from their past. Porsche, Morgan... Then in my opinion a lot of companies just use names from the past to sell cars now, when there is very little in common. At least Jaguar don't try and make some tenuous link of "our car is like the E-type" nonsense.

[kambites]

pb63 said:

Sounds like you drove a v12 etype...which is not really the cherry of the bunch.

Try a series 1. Thats a sports car not a cruiser. The 3.8 more so.

It was a series-2 FHC - a 4.2 I believe?

[cheesyblob]

pb63 said:

Frimley111R said:

You live on the moon right???

Can you name a production model since the 70's they've made which has had anything like the impact the e-type had?

Well I can't myself, but you said nothing they've made since is any good, not nothing they've made since has the same impact. So to answer your real question:

XJ-S
XK8
XK
XJ220
XJ Series 1
XJ Series 2
XJ Series 3
XJ40
X300
X305
X308
X350
X351
X358
S-Type
S-Type
XJ-C
XF
420G
420
MKIX
MKX

[petergrimsdale]

Another great - in depth piece. Well done PH. More please.
Having had my first look at the facelifted XF at the Goodwood Festival of Speed yesterday, I'm struck by how much more emotion is currently going in to Jaguar design than any of their German competitors.
Its a very good point about cars from other marques looking too similar. Passing the Audi dealer at the bottom of my road I frequently have to look at the badging to figure out which I'm looking at.

[Marwood79]

I think it's hilarious to hear Callum talk about the "dangerously" similar design of some rivals. Er, current AM range Ian?

Anyway, I for one lament the failure to build the F-type. Excuses excuses...

Let's see what you can do... but please, don't expect me to buy a mini-XK. Put your money where your mouth is and make it stand out.

I'd bloody love to buy a Jag sportscar - with the emphasis on SPORTS.

[Marwood79]

ps. Anyone else out there think a Jaguar / Lotus tie-up would make a lot of sense right about now?

Certainly more sense than those 2 companies competing directly against each other....

[Chris-R]

snaelro said:

well, same for today when they announce sales growth in china or russia. it is to compare with the market growth itself, or the competition. JLR did something like +45% in china last year. BMW for example +85%

Damn lies and statistics, etc.

Jag only had V8 petrol XJs on offer in China last year so faced crippling luxury car taxes that disadvantaged them significantly against BMW. They're gradually filling in the gaps...

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[pb63]

MX5guy said:

The problem is they'd then get accused of living in the past, never doing anything new etc. In the past it was much easier to make a car stand out compared to others, because they could be rapidly improved due to technology, and they had far less restrictions on them. Obviously it is possible to create great new cars, but I think they should be designed for the time they're in, and evolve. Very few companies sucessfully sell cars "copied" from their past. Porsche, Morgan... Then in my opinion a lot of companies just use names from the past to sell cars now, when there is very little in common. At least Jaguar don't try and make some tenuous link of "our car is like the E-type" nonsense.

I'm not saying they should produce something 'old'. Far from it. I'm saying they should still have a presence in the market which the etype was focused. A fun, small, affordable sportscar. No more expensive than a boxter, priced below a 911 for the top model would be perfect.

Edited by pb63 on Tuesday 5th July 13:36

[pb63]

cheesyblob said:

Well I can't myself, but you said nothing they've made since is any good, not nothing they've made since has the same impact. So to answer your real question:

XJ-S
XK8
XK
XJ220
XJ Series 1
XJ Series 2
XJ Series 3
XJ40
X300
X305
X308
X350
X351
X358
S-Type
S-Type
XJ-C
XF
420G
420
MKIX
MKX

Well a positive impact is normally something perceived as being 'good', so I stand by what I said, nothing since 1961 has moved that on.

Any of those in your list best in class? Maybe, maybe not. Xj220 for a small period of time....whoopee 280 odd units produced. Certainly not the success they had with a certain sportscar...

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

MX5?

Like it or not TT srpings to mind