SamIAM™
07-16-2003, 03:50 PM
From autoexpress:
Is the Big Cat set to be leaping off the front of an SUV in the near future? It's inevitable, according to our source highly placed in Jaguar product development. "Considering the success of the Volvo XC90, I can't see how we can avoid entering this sector," he told us.
The US is one of the company's most important markets and sales of lightweight crossover SUVs such as the Lexus RX300 and BMW X5 are booming there. Bosses admit that the European diesel engine boom has cost the firm dear, and they don't want to be left behind again.
Officially, all Jaguar will say is that it investigated building an SUV in 1999, but concluded it didn't need to enter the market. Since then, though, sales of lifestyle crossover models have exploded. Jaguar's owner Ford is also rushing to enter the American SUV market with two models - a Ford and a Lincoln - based on the 4x4 Mazda 6 platform. These will be built in Canada and should be unveiled in late 2005. Industry sources think a Jag SUV could be a version of this car, although serious design work has yet to start at the British firm's Coventry-based styling studios.
Is the Big Cat set to be leaping off the front of an SUV in the near future? It's inevitable, according to our source highly placed in Jaguar product development. "Considering the success of the Volvo XC90, I can't see how we can avoid entering this sector," he told us.
The US is one of the company's most important markets and sales of lightweight crossover SUVs such as the Lexus RX300 and BMW X5 are booming there. Bosses admit that the European diesel engine boom has cost the firm dear, and they don't want to be left behind again.
Officially, all Jaguar will say is that it investigated building an SUV in 1999, but concluded it didn't need to enter the market. Since then, though, sales of lifestyle crossover models have exploded. Jaguar's owner Ford is also rushing to enter the American SUV market with two models - a Ford and a Lincoln - based on the 4x4 Mazda 6 platform. These will be built in Canada and should be unveiled in late 2005. Industry sources think a Jag SUV could be a version of this car, although serious design work has yet to start at the British firm's Coventry-based styling studios.