Posted on 07/15/2024 2:17:43 PM PDT by Red Badger
Automaker investor days are joining spy shots and leaked documents as the most regular sources of unexpected information on future product. After Jaguar Land Rover held its confab with Wall Street last month, Automotive News found just how far upmarket the English group wants to go. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, who left Bentley for his current job, referred to a "halo strategy" that, in AN's words, is "looking to increase sales of high-value, special edition models costing upwards of 1.5 million pounds" in a new “halo strategy” push. That's a floor of $1.95M U.S. at current exchange rates, a barrier few but the super luxury and super sports car makers cross. McLaren's last Ultimate Series car, the Speedtail, asked $2.1M U.S. before options, as did the Bentley Batur, we can expect Ferrari's coming halo special to start even higher, and the Bugatti Mistral opens the bidding at $5.1M.
Outside of Jaguar's Continuation models, we aren't aware of any JLR products that come close seven figures, much less seven figures that begin with a "2." The 2015 Continuation Lightweight E-Type started at about $1.5 million ten years ago, the 2016 Continuation XKSS, 2018 Continuation D-Type, and 2021 Continuation C-Type all asked around $1.4 million. If Jaguar Classic's web page can be believed, a buyer with 1.75 million pounds ($2.23M U.S.) can buy a Continuation D-Type now, suggesting the run of 25 cars hasn't sold out.
Range Rover's done the biggest business in special editions so far, releasing seven units of the latest Carmel Edition (pictured above) last year at $371,175 per, and 20 units of the Sadaf Edition for the Middle East earlier this year at $415,000 per.
We might find out more about the plan when Jaguar shows its electric concept later this year, lately presumed to be a four-seat GT with four-doors. It will introduce us to the Jaguar Electrified Architecture, baseline specs of at least 450 horsepower, all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, super-fast charging times, and what kind of future product Jaguar intends for its six-figure prices. Designs will be minimalist, heavy on touchscreens and sustainable materials, and light on rear windows; Autocar says none of Jaguar's first three EVs will fit a backlight. Like the Polestar 3, the Jaguars will use "a digital 'mirror' at the base of the windscreen."
Speaking of Jaguar, when the automaker revealed its F-Pace 90th Anniversary Edition — while clarifying that F-Pace production would continue "for the foreseeable future" — we were left to think the the global Jaguar range would consist of the electric I-Pace, the E-Pace crossover and the XF sedan. A few days after that special edition F-Pace, Jaguar announced its Castle Bromwich plant had assembled the final examples of the F-Type, XE sedan, and XF Sportbrake. Automotive News reports Mardell told analysts Jaguar would kill everything but the F-Pace this year. Mardell didn't provide timing, but with his comment that "None of those are vehicles on which we made any money," it sounds like it could be sooner rather than later. In the most recent quarter, the F-Pace represented a third of Jaguar sales globally, while Jaguar sales represented 14% of Jaguar Land Rover Sales. Just three of the group's models, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Defender, made up 59% of group sales.
The first production EV from the brand will be the battery-powered Range Rover, also expected to debut before the end of the year.
Chrysler likes to tout (not as often now as in the recent past) their development of the minivan, but whatever they put out today gets easily stomped by the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.
I have not seen any example of the original four-cylinder “short” (versus later “grand”) Chrysler minivan in ages. They must be extremely rare now.
I cringe when I hear people say "Jag-wire".
Welcome my son
Welcome to the machine
What did you dream?
It’s all right we told you what to dream
You dreamed of a big star
He played a mean guitar
He always ate in the Steak Bar
He loved to drive in his Jaguar
So welcome to the machine
Why my hext car WILL NOT BE A JAGUAR, after ive owned 6 jags.
How about the British “Jag-you-are”? (Most widely heard example sung by Roy Harper on “Have A Cigar”)
Always wanted to buy a new Jag. Now that I come close to being able to afford one, I don’t like anything they’re building.
Sure do miss the world I grew up in...
Years ago, where I worked for reasons I never understood they hired a weird hippie type. I found out he had an old Jaguar saloon, I think it was a MK VII. He told me it had been owned by a rock musician who had replaced the sunroof with translucent red plastic, and the upholstery was redone in red velvet. I rode in it once, it was awesome!
There are but 4 minivans on the market today. Toyota, Honda, Kia and Chrysler.
I did my research last year. Put thought into them all before buying......
The Chrysler. Bought used at 36,000 miles. Now at 51,000 trouble free miles.
Funny but fake.
I once saw a Jaguar with a vanity license plate which read “WANKER”. It was probably accurate.
[Wouldn’t a nice Mk2 or updated 140 drophead be nice?]
I had a ‘68 340, decades ago. Beautiful car. Would have been nice to have in reliable working condition.
[Going all EV and soon going out of business.]
Yeah, that’s my prediction, too. I would tell them, never go all-in on something that even when it works, is unreliable junk.
But that was their business model for years.
It’s from the movie “Crazy People”.
LOL, that explains it. Thanks.
“The first production EV from the brand will be the battery-powered Range Rover, also expected to debut before the end of the year.”
just in time when most auto buyers have discovered that EVs are generally a VERY bad idea ... great timing, JLR!
Ha, ha. I know that Jaguar has a bad reputation, but mine was very reliable. Really.
The only thing I ever changed was the valve in the engine compartment that allows you to have different temperature zones on the two sides of the car. I was able to do it myself. I made the mistake of buying the cheapest valve I could find. It worked but it would stick a bit, but after a few minutes it would unstick and the temperature controls would be normal.
I have a black 2007 S Type. I have 2 cars. Still love driving my Jag.
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