RE: Jag launches 4x4s
Discussion
What a shame. OK, I'm of the believe that 4WD saloons are not necessary in the UK and for the 1-week it does snow, I just hold up at home and enjoy watching people side / crash their cars in the slippy stuff!
However, surely the amount of Audi Quattros & other 4WD cars / SUVs out there shows that a good chunk of the UK population do want the stability / grip that AWD offers?
I would have thought that offering this in saloon & estate form in the UK would open Jag up to a market currently dominated by Audi and might even steal some BMW & Merc sales to boot.
Seems like a pretty big miss to me.
However, surely the amount of Audi Quattros & other 4WD cars / SUVs out there shows that a good chunk of the UK population do want the stability / grip that AWD offers?
I would have thought that offering this in saloon & estate form in the UK would open Jag up to a market currently dominated by Audi and might even steal some BMW & Merc sales to boot.
Seems like a pretty big miss to me.
I can't see why this type of thing happens unless its for practical reasons like routing of mechanicals which will fit with LHD but not RHD.
An allroad 3 series or alpina would be exactly what we want but unless we have a lhd version from scandinavia then nothing doing.
Seems a bit myopic.
An allroad 3 series or alpina would be exactly what we want but unless we have a lhd version from scandinavia then nothing doing.
Seems a bit myopic.
This is a shortsighted decision.
I've had 4WD cars for the last 24 years starting with a W124 Mercedes 300TE 4-Matic.
We can't be the only couple who like to drive to the ( Austrian ) Ski resorts. We also have a house in the centre of France and a 4WD car guarantees we can get there in the Winter.
I kept the 300TE 4-Matic until it was sadly written off in 2003 by being rear ended but by then Mercedes couldn't supply a RHD replacement.
I didn't really want an SUV but I reluctantly bought a new X5 as this was the 4 x 4 with the best on-road handling.
Last year, I wanted to replace the BMW with something that would be more economical and has a better ride. Again, my first choice would have been a Mercedes 4-Matic estate, but, yet again, Mercedes lost out : I bought an Audi A5 Quattro Sportback instead. Less carrying capacity but reasonably economical and a great touring car.
The perfect next car for me would be a Jaguar 4wd diesel Sportbreak but it looks like Jaguar won't be getting my business either !
I've had 4WD cars for the last 24 years starting with a W124 Mercedes 300TE 4-Matic.
We can't be the only couple who like to drive to the ( Austrian ) Ski resorts. We also have a house in the centre of France and a 4WD car guarantees we can get there in the Winter.
I kept the 300TE 4-Matic until it was sadly written off in 2003 by being rear ended but by then Mercedes couldn't supply a RHD replacement.
I didn't really want an SUV but I reluctantly bought a new X5 as this was the 4 x 4 with the best on-road handling.
Last year, I wanted to replace the BMW with something that would be more economical and has a better ride. Again, my first choice would have been a Mercedes 4-Matic estate, but, yet again, Mercedes lost out : I bought an Audi A5 Quattro Sportback instead. Less carrying capacity but reasonably economical and a great touring car.
The perfect next car for me would be a Jaguar 4wd diesel Sportbreak but it looks like Jaguar won't be getting my business either !
I am on my 2nd X Type AWD from new and like many owners have waited for Jaguar to bring out an AWD replacement. Now the Evoque runs the 2.2D 4X4 layout, so please tell me why the XF 2.2D can't be brought out in 4X4, Jaguar listen to your UK customers, when we had the bad weather 2 winters ago,which lasted for weeks , I travelled from Hull to Leeds everyday in my X type whilst my neighbours sat at home with their BMW and Mercs sat on the drive motionless, many jobs cannot be 'work from home' and we don't all want to drive SUV's but as the X gets older my only alternative replacment option, as others have said is 'AUDI'
Downton Mini said:
Jaguar wake up not selling awd versions in the UK is a big mistake
But they've done the maths and realised that even if they cornered a big chunk of the UK AWD saloon market it won't be profitable at this stage.Good to see the firm thinking about being profitable.
The biggest demand is in LHD markets, build that, take share and keep an open mind as to whether it is worth the cost of doing a RHD.
toppstuff said:
This.
It is a real irritation of mine. BMW and Mercedes continue to refuse to give the UK customer an alternative to Audi.
If they don't offer them, people won't buy them FFS !
Meanwhile, Audi do very nicely selling AWD Quattro's, Octavia Scouts etc.
It is a boneheaded move on Jaguar's part not to offer this.
A 4x4 Sportbrake would be my perfect next car. Sadly, I'll probably have to get an A6 instead.
Idiots.
I agree; I have had five Quattros and would like a change. Nobody has anything compelling to offer. It is a real irritation of mine. BMW and Mercedes continue to refuse to give the UK customer an alternative to Audi.
If they don't offer them, people won't buy them FFS !
Meanwhile, Audi do very nicely selling AWD Quattro's, Octavia Scouts etc.
It is a boneheaded move on Jaguar's part not to offer this.
A 4x4 Sportbrake would be my perfect next car. Sadly, I'll probably have to get an A6 instead.
Idiots.
- C63 AMG: Great deals available and a great car, until it rains, when it's not.
- BMW M550; £70k when you spec it, which is bonkers.
- No Sportbrake R, yet, but maybe it's on the horizon?
No AWD in Northern Europe's wettest countries (Ireland/UK) even though we are something of experts in building them at Land Rover.
If Jag really want to get away from their past, try putting some product in the showrooms that'll cause a real stir: A Sportbrake R with 5.0ltr V8 and AWD anyone? Not as an after thought run-off special, as a halo launch car.
JonnyVTEC said:
Watchman said:
So how do Subaru do it then?
Like Audi.Halfshaft output is from the gearbox, not the engine.
Easy to sort in a short boxer engine but ever wondered why Audi's like to plough on? :P That engine is all ahead of the front axle.
There's no point selling a car at a loss, so if Jag think the UK market is too small, I can understand their decision. Plenty of other manufacturers do similar things, for example Peugeot only sold the 306 rallye in the UK as their domestic market for hot hatches is much smaller.
The only reason Audi can sell 4wd in big numbers is because of the sub-brand the quattro badge has created. Tell a normal person your Audi is quattro they will be impressed, but tell them your merc is 4matic they will just stare at you blankly. A petrolhead will know whether a 4wd varient is good or not, but 90% of the population hasn't got the foggiest idea, they just associate "quattro" with expensive German car.
The only reason Audi can sell 4wd in big numbers is because of the sub-brand the quattro badge has created. Tell a normal person your Audi is quattro they will be impressed, but tell them your merc is 4matic they will just stare at you blankly. A petrolhead will know whether a 4wd varient is good or not, but 90% of the population hasn't got the foggiest idea, they just associate "quattro" with expensive German car.
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