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Customer LoginsSame-Day Analysis: Next-generation Jaguar XJ earmarked to remain sedan, Land Rover could get road-biased Range Rover – report
After some speculation as to the future of Jaguar's flagship, the XJ, a report has suggested that it will remain a sedan when the current generation is replaced, while another has stated that Land Rover could bring a new road-biased Range Rover model to market.
IHS Automotive Perspective
- Significance: Despite speculation that Jaguar could replace its flagship XJ with a crossover design, it is reported that it will now remain a sedan. A new road-biased Range Rover model could also be on the way.
- Implications: Although the sales numbers for the Jaguar XJ are relatively low compared to some of its rivals, the article suggests that it still sees some opportunities for this model.
- Outlook: Both models are likely to help JLR's ongoing growth with both contributing to the increase from around 483,000 units during 2015 to almost 770,000 units by 2020 according to IHS Automotive forecasts.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will continue its new and replacement model offensive, according to articles that have been published by Autocar.
After some speculation over the future of Jaguar's flagship, the XJ, the enthusiast publication has suggested that it will remain a sedan when the current generation is replaced. Unnamed sources at the automaker have said that a wide range of options have been looked at with regards its replacement, including the possibility of it becoming a sport utility vehicle (SUV). There was also some consideration given to killing it offl entirely due to the relatively low number of sales that it generates, as well as the interior space and market positioning of the XF.
However, when asked about the future of this model and whether the F-Pace could take over its positioning in the range, Jaguar's director of design Ian Callum told the magazine, "Proper luxury brands have to have an indulgent car in there somewhere... We've got two: the XJ and the F-Type. If you want the room of an XJ, you might as well buy an XF - there's not much in it - but the whole point of luxury is indulgence, so you need a car like that, something that acts as the bookend for the brand. I think we will always have that."
MY2016 Jaguar XJ Autobiography |
Sources have said that the decision to move forward with the XJ has been undertaken due to the strong demand for the Mercedes S-Class as well as the technology that is now featured in the BMW 7-Series. They also suggested that the levels of interior comfort and finish quality in these vehicles have given an indication of the demands now being made by customers in this category.
With this in mind, it has been reported that the car will use the same PLA-D7a aluminium body structure that underpins the XE and XF, but also incorporating carbon fibre to make it both lighter and stiffer. In addition, the new powertrain is reported feature a new V-6 variant of its Ingenium engine family in gasoline (petrol) and diesel variants. There is also a suggestion that it will be sold mainly as a plug-in hybrid. It is also expected that a great deal of investment will be made in to the quality and design of the interior, with greater luxury than the XF. Touchscreens will heavily feature and could include one for transmission mode selection, while a radical change to the digital instrument display is also expected to take place.
As for the exterior design, like with the current generation, it could mark a distinct change in the design language of the brand compared to its recent launches. A concept for this could be revealed as early as 2018 - the 50th anniversary of the nameplate - prior to a production ready model the following year.
Separately, Autocar also reports that a Range Rover model designed by Land Rover to fill a gap between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport could have a more road-bias. The publication has said that this vehicle, codenamed L560, is being referred to internally as "Evoque Plus" but could reach the market called "Range Rover Sport Coupé". The article suggests that it could use the PLA-D7a aluminium architecture which is also shared by Jaguar's F-Pace when it is launched, expected next year. The 4.7-metre design is expected to be more rakish than has been traditionally been the case for the brand's vehicles, with sloping roofline and tight rear overhang as well as long bonnet. It is also expected to be offered primarily as a four-seat model, only offering five seats as an option. The magazine also speculates that as well as gasoline (petrol), diesel and hybrid options, it may also become the brand's first electric vehicle (EV) leveraging the technology that is already expected for Jaguar's own model.
Outlook and implications
The E segment XJ sedan has been the flagship of the Jaguar line-up since the late 1960s and the launch of a new generation tends to encapsulate the brand's most recent engineering developments, if not always a change in design direction. The current generation was the first model to be launched by the Jaguar brand following the sale of JLR by Ford to Tata Motors. Although it was the XF that preceded it that marked a change in the design direction from the retro-look that had haunted Jaguar design since the mid-1990's, the XJ marked an arguably more extreme change in direction for this model. It also had a look that finally befitted the advanced aluminium lightweight architecture that this model had used since 2003.
Nevertheless, compared to the German premium OEMs which make up the big players in the E CAR category, the XJ is a very much smaller player. Although sales peaked at over 19,000 units during 2013, they have tended to average around 15,000 since it reached the market during 2010. By comparison, the Audi has averaged around 32,500 units, the BMW 7 Series around 56,500 units and the Mercedes S-Class around 77,500 units. The latter has been phenomenally successful in recent times particularly, with sales reaching over 100,000 units during 2014 and 2015, and likely to have underlined the continued potential for this category despite the growth of crossovers and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
As with many of its rivals, Jaguar is likely to plan to load this model with the cutting-edge technology that it has been working on, particularly in the area of connected cars and elements of autonomous driver technology. It could also help preview a shift in the brand's design direction in future, and this is likely to be more influential than ever before given its widening portfolio. It may also look to push the boundaries with the price point is currently priced at. Certainly Range Rover has achieved this very successfully, and given the headroom that the Mercedes S-Class has given itself through AMG and Mercedes-Maybach variants it could present further opportunities.
As for the forthcoming addition to the Range Rover range, IHS Automotive anticipates that it will add further momentum to Land Rover's range in what will be another busy period for it. Its launch, which we anticipate to take place in 2017, will follow in the footsteps of the new Land Rover Discovery in 2016. However, the replacement for the Defender is now not due until 2019, when it will be joined by the fifth generation Range Rover. These additions and replacements will light Land Rover's global sales from around 400,000 units in 2015 to over 515,000 units by 2020. However, it will be Jaguar that will drive sales during the next five or so years, lifting overall JLR sales from 483,000 units during 2015 to almost 770,000 units by 2020.
About this article
The above article is from IHS Automotive Same-Day Analysis of automotive news, events and trends, and is a deliverable of the World Markets Automotive Service. The service averages thirty stories per day and also provides competitor and country intelligence. Get a free trial.