Jaguar Seeks Road to Recovery with Tata - Times Online
March 31, 2008
An interesting article in the times on the recent purchase of Jaguar (and Land Rover) by Tata. The £1.15 billion deal officially went through last week after months of speculation.
The times calls Jaguar Fords “English Patient” referencing BMW’s problems with MG Rover which it eventually had to sell for a huge loss. The figures don’t look good for Fords tenure - They paid £1.6 billion for Jaguar in 1989 and hit a low sales figure last year of 54,000 cars. The Times places much of the blame for Jaguars demise at the Ford management. Forcing them to attempt to become a volume seller - in the region of 200-300,000 cars a year mainly through the X-Type.
Jaguars future could look better under Tata however - the company aims to sell 100,000 cars a year and has the warmly received and recently launched Jaguar XF to play with. Read the full article here
Jay Leno Drives the Jaguar XF
March 27, 2008
US talk show host and self confessed car nut Jay Leno talks about Jaguar and the new XF in this interesting video. He obviously knows a great deal about Jaguar in terms of the history of the brand and seems very impressed with the new XF. He does berate Jaguar however for failing to move with the times - my favoutite line was
“You can sell a young man’s car to an old man but not the other way round”
Jeremy Clarkson Reviews the Jaguar XF - Flawed and Fantastic!
March 27, 2008
Anyone who has read Jeremy Clarkson’s articles in the Sunday Times knows how these things work. Six paragraphs of Jeremy putting the world to rights followed by a few sentences on the car.
And Mr Clarksons review of the jaguar XF is no different. He first launches into a probably justified diatribe about Jaguar as a whole and the mismanagement of the brand over the last few years -
“…in the past few years, we got the new XJ, which looks like a fatter version of the old XJ. We got the X-type, which was an expensive way of buying a Mondeo, and we got the S-type. Which was a Lincoln dressed in Mallory’s tweed suit. And fitted with Danniella Westbrook’s idiotic nose.”
For those non UK readers Danniella Westbrook is an actress famous for destroying her nose with cocaine.
He then roasts the XF - not as nice as the concept car (are they ever?), too many gimmicks, poor gearbox, starter button not working properly. So a pretty poor review, but as with most of Jeremy Clarksons reveiws there is a kicker -
“Strangely, however, despite all of this, I enjoyed my time with the XF enormously. I’d have one over an equivalent BMW, Audi or Lexus any day.”
He loves the interior, modern and hemmed in - safe , the ride quality and overall
” This, then, is a car that’s flawed and fantastic, irritating and rewarding, mad and bad. But when all is said and done – and this is the nonsensical joy of cars – I liked it. I looked forward to driving it. I’m sad it’s not here any more.”
Read the full review here
Stuff NZ - first Drive of Hot New Car - Jaguar XF
March 27, 2008
Stuff New Zealand have given the new Jaguar XF a glowing review after their first drive at a Monte Carlo launch. Impressed with both the engines and the interior stuff goes on to say:
“Amid the glamorous rich man’s playground of Monaco, the million-dollar question is whether the XF is good enough to revive Jaguar’s flagging fortunes. You bet.”
To read the full review click here
Jaguar XF latest TV ad
March 26, 2008
Just in case anyone missed it here is the latest TV as currently running in the UK.
BBC Topgear’s James May reviews the Jaguar XF
March 26, 2008
After blasting the Jaguar S-Type and Jaguar in general James May from BBC TopGear - the most popular motoring program in the world gives the Jaguar XF a generally positive review - praising the XF’s design, value for money. “For years the Germans have had it easy as all we had to take them on was Chumley Warner, but now we have this. Make no mistake the XF is very good, but more than that it means Jaguar has finally found the balls to make a saloon that belongs in the present.” For the rest of the Topgear teams ramblings on the XF see the video below.
Fifth Gear Gives Jaguar XF Glowing Review
March 26, 2008
Jaguar could have easily written themselves out of the history books if they had got the XF wrong - but they haven’t. Well according to the UK’s fifth gear program anyway.
Apparently it has the grace and warmth that people expect of jaguar and the XF is a world class car - see the full video below.
Tata finally buys Jaguar for a bargain £1.15 billion
March 26, 2008
After months of speculation and negotiations, Tata the Indian auto manufacturer, has agreeed a deal with Ford to buy the Jaguar brand.
Tata, India’s biggest car maker, is paying $2.3 billion for both the Jaguar and Land Rover brands and the deal will be completed by the summer barring any problems with regulatory approval.
Over 16,000 people are employed under the Jaguar and Land Rover marques in the West Midlands and Merseyside and this new deal could prove invaluable in securing the future of those jobs as Tata have promised that no significant changes will be made to their current terms and conditions.
Ford boss Alan Mulally said ” Now, it is time for Ford to concentrate on integrating the Ford brand globally”.
A spokesman for the Indian firm said “We are very pleased at the prospect of Jaguar and Land Rover being a significant part of our automotive business, We have enormous respect for the two brands and will endeavour to preserve and build on their heritage and competitiveness, keeping their identities intact. We aim to support their growth, while holding true to our principles of allowing the management and employees to bring their experience and expertise to bear on the growth of the business.”
With the new Jaguar XF receiving rave reviews from media across the world this could be a a good move for Tata.
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