RE: New XK sees Jaguar sales jump
Thursday 12th October 2006
Jaguar XKR: we like it...Jaguar's UK sales took a leap forward in September, thanks to strong performances by the flagship XJ saloon and highly acclaimed XK sports car.
New XK sees Jaguar sales jump
But is Jag safe from predators?
Jaguar XKR: we like it...
The company sold 4,421 vehicles in the key month of September, with sales of the XJ range up by 155 per cent - more than double last year's September volume. The latest 2.7 twin-turbo diesel version accounted for nearly 67 per cent of the total -- see link below for PH's review of this car.
Jaguar UK reckons it's has sold almost 2,000 XJ models so far this year, including more than 50 per cent diesel versions, contributing to an increase for the model of 31 per cent versus 2005. Jaguar has also recently announced the introduction of its long wheel base XJ diesel which is due to arrive in showrooms from early next year.
Jaguar also claims advance orders of 1,500 for the supercharged XKR globally -- 800 in the UK market alone -- even though it doesn’t arrive in showrooms until November.
Jaguar said that the XK's sales increased by 74 per cent in the year-to-date compared to 2005 and 72 per cent month-on-month -- although the phenomenon of the sales of an outgoing model dying when replacing a flagship model is common.
So far this year, nearly 2,000 UK customers have taken delivery of the new XK and globally, Jaguar has already sold nearly 10,000 with the order bank still growing.
"We are particularly pleased that our UK sales volumes continue to increase at an unparalleled rate in an increasingly competitive market environment," said Jaguar UK boss Geoff Cousins. "Important new models, – such as the XK sports car and XJ diesel models, are major factors in attracting new customers to the Jaguar brand. It is also encouraging that the S-TYPE Diesel is already establishing itself as the car of choice in the corporate market.
"I also regard our year to date September sales of the XJ (up by over 31 per cent on 2005) as an even bigger achievement than our XK success. By focusing on the XJ and the new XK though, both the brand and our dealers are making good margins which support our premium niche strategy and business."
What we still don't know is how safe Jaguar will be if Ford decides to sell it...
PH reviews
Discussion
Given that the XK (even the basic one) now look sgreat in the flesh, and that Jaguar are now known for their diesel, why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock..
I've never been a lover of jags before (e types and oter 60's cars notwithstanding) and the old XK didn't light my bonfire either, but the new XK does seem to hit the spot, so why not?
I've never been a lover of jags before (e types and oter 60's cars notwithstanding) and the old XK didn't light my bonfire either, but the new XK does seem to hit the spot, so why not?
andyinpembs said:
why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke
The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK. Edited by bad company on Thursday 12th October 12:48
bad company said:
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK.
The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK.This "workaday" diesel happens to be the quietest diesel on the market. Rumour is Mercedes are benchmarking this engine and scratching their heads on how the hell it was made so quiet!
And don't for one minute think that Jaguar are standing still on the power/torque and transient response of this engine.
bad company said:
andyinpembs said:
why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK. Edited by bad company on Thursday 12th October 12:48
The original post also refers to not being a Jag lover in the first place, maybe this gives away the intention...
Dr S said:
bad company said:
andyinpembs said:
why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK. Edited by bad company on Thursday 12th October 12:48
The original post also refers to not being a Jag lover in the first place, maybe this gives away the intention...
I'm being deadly serious. BMW & Mercedes have coupe oilburners, as do Audi, with more on the way. It's a gaping hole in Jaguars product line, if you open your eyes to the fact. The D was the highest selling X type, is the highest selling XJ, (don't know about the S-Type). Look back at this post in 12 / 24 months time and see how silly it reads then! Be prepared to bow down before me
andyinpembs said:
Dr S said:
bad company said:
andyinpembs said:
why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK. Edited by bad company on Thursday 12th October 12:48
The original post also refers to not being a Jag lover in the first place, maybe this gives away the intention...
I'm being deadly serious. BMW & Mercedes have coupe oilburners, as do Audi, with more on the way. It's a gaping hole in Jaguars product line, if you open your eyes to the fact. The D was the highest selling X type, is the highest selling XJ, (don't know about the S-Type). Look back at this post in 12 / 24 months time and see how silly it reads then! Be prepared to bow down before me
Sadly I think this person is correct.. it will happen eventually.
Audi isnt really a fair comparison as their coupe is just a front drive hairdresser waggon with a diesel which seems perfectly sensible really for their target market.
BMW do the 330d coupe which is a smaller class of coupe. I dont believe they yet do a 6 series diesel.
Merc dont do a SL diesel to my knowledge. The SL and SEC models have always been the natural XJS and XK competitors.
At least Audi winning Le Mans has added a small amount of kudos to oil burners.
Stick in a whallopping diesel and add a pre-recorded v8 soundtrack with big speakers pointing backwards. Job done.
Personally, I think Jag needs to follow Porsche's example and dump the high volume wagons and stick to the limos and GTs and bring in the F.
Stick in a whallopping diesel and add a pre-recorded v8 soundtrack with big speakers pointing backwards. Job done.
Personally, I think Jag needs to follow Porsche's example and dump the high volume wagons and stick to the limos and GTs and bring in the F.
oagent said:
andyinpembs said:
Dr S said:
bad company said:
andyinpembs said:
why not make a Diesel XK? The 2.7 tt has enough poke for it not to be a laughing stock
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK. Edited by bad company on Thursday 12th October 12:48
The original post also refers to not being a Jag lover in the first place, maybe this gives away the intention...
I'm being deadly serious. BMW & Mercedes have coupe oilburners, as do Audi, with more on the way. It's a gaping hole in Jaguars product line, if you open your eyes to the fact. The D was the highest selling X type, is the highest selling XJ, (don't know about the S-Type). Look back at this post in 12 / 24 months time and see how silly it reads then! Be prepared to bow down before me
Sadly I think this person is correct.. it will happen eventually.
Audi isnt really a fair comparison as their coupe is just a front drive hairdresser waggon with a diesel which seems perfectly sensible really for their target market.
BMW do the 330d coupe which is a smaller class of coupe. I dont believe they yet do a 6 series diesel.
Merc dont do a SL diesel to my knowledge. The SL and SEC models have always been the natural XJS and XK competitors.
If it makes ensures the success of Jaguar why not have an XKD, perhaps drop the new Land Rover v8 diesel into it instead. Perhaps with the money they make from it they can invest in the F-Type and make a performance F-Type diesel - beat the Germans at their own game :-)
wheeljack888 said:
bad company said:
PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a joke The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK.
The XJ diesel sounds and performs like a workaday DIESEL. Please do not inflict this engine on the XK.This "workaday" diesel happens to be the quietest diesel on the market. Rumour is Mercedes are benchmarking this engine and scratching their heads on how the hell it was made so quiet!
And don't for one minute think that Jaguar are standing still on the power/torque and transient response of this engine.
Sorry I just can't see it. I love Jags and will be taking delivery of a new XJ8 in a few days but for me the diesel is a poor relation. I tried 2, the dealer even let me have one for 24 hours but for me it was slow and noisey.
If I was going to buy a diesel it would be a BMW 535 every time.
Bad Company, while I appreciate your enthusiasm for the 535d you are not comparing like with like. If you are looking for a 5-Series size car, then the S-TYPE 2.7D starts at £28,895 and therefore wipes the floor spec-wise with the embarassingly poorly spec'd 525d at £29,535. Alternatively, if you wish to compare the XJ diesel with its true competitor then lets look at the £44,020 XJ 2.7D versus the £50,870 BMW 730d. If you have driven the XJdiesel versus its competitors you will appreciate that the engine, the electronic engine mounts and the other bits and pieces mean that it is incredibly refined verus 320CDI Mercs and 3.0d BMW's. It may not have the ultimate refinement of your V8 - but as a regular user of both, I can vouch for the fact that 36mpg is less painful on the wallet than 26mpg. Your choice, but at least make sure you are not comparing apples with pears!!
bad company said:
Sorry I just can't see it. I love Jags and will be taking delivery of a new XJ8 in a few days but for me the diesel is a poor relation. I tried 2, the dealer even let me have one for 24 hours but for me it was slow and noisey.
If I was going to buy a diesel it would be a BMW 535 every time.
If I was going to buy a diesel it would be a BMW 535 every time.
To add to DannyT's comments:
You can't compare it to the V8 petrol. Can't break the Laws of Physics you know. A diesel is not a petrol and the Diesel's inherent aggressive rate of heat release and corresponding pressure rise will always cause the "diesel-knock". And it will feel slow compared to the petrol as it's ~100bhp down!
Compare it to the equivalent Audi, BMW, Merc ~3.0 litre diesel and it IS quieter. This has been benchmarked. Every bloody component on the engine has been designed to reduce radiated noise, through material selection (compacted graphite iron cylinder block) or making sure the natural frequency of the components is above the firing frequency at max engine speed or even making sure that there are minimal flat panels on the components. Then you have the fuelling calibration designed to reduce noise by multi-stage injections with Piezo-electric controlled injectors. THEN you have all the noise suppression techniques as well i.e. active mounts, engine covers, etc. There really is little else possible that could be done, and it was a
ing brilliant two-fingers up to the Germans at the time! The serial-sequential turbocharged BMW 535d engine is bloody superb, no question there. But you have to remember that it has ~£4000 premium over the equivalent 530d (and nearly £10000 over the Jag 'S' type!) The other thing is BMW probably sell more 5 series ALONE in a year than Jag does in it's entire range. In terms of resourse (financial and people) BMW is a collossus compared to Jag and they will always be able to release stuff like this before Jaguar. In fact Audi and Merc have yet to release anything that matches this BMW!
But I will re-iterate that Jag are not standing still on the diesel power/torque/response front!
PS The V6D into XK is being looked at but it doesn't just slot into the engine bay. There is quite a bit of engineering to do to acheive this. So there is no guarantee it will happen!
Edited by wheeljack888 on Thursday 12th October 23:21
mondeoman said:
Sod the diseasels.
My concern would be the poor residuals on an XKR. Temped to place an order, but I can see them losing money hand over fist.
Oh, and the lack of LSD is bad judgement IMHO.
My concern would be the poor residuals on an XKR. Temped to place an order, but I can see them losing money hand over fist.
Oh, and the lack of LSD is bad judgement IMHO.
Edited by mondeoman on Friday 13th October 09:47
Could not agree more. I really would like an XK but how long will it before discounts are available which will effect the residuals. They might even have a 20th century ariel by then!
Edited by bad company on Friday 13th October 12:21
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