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.
What have we become?
Autobeat writers salivating over an SUV?
Bring back naturally aspirated. Detroit pressed steel.
Sigh. I had a dark red 2005 Jag-u-ar S-Type that I absolutely loved!
Sadly, I had a medical problem while driving it and crashed into the back of someone at a stoplight totaling the car.
Sounds like Jag is on it’s last legs.
No point in the F-pace without other <$150k models. Current dealers will have to close.
Maybe they think Land Rover will absorb some Jaguar sales?
They apparently are going upscale to the max...........
Waymo uses Jaguar products extensively. I do not know what model they use.
Total electric and totally unaffordable........
The F-Pace is a nice little SUV. Sporty.
The days of luxury sedans are largely over in the USA and Jaguar excelled at the saloon, along with luxury sports cars, generally convertible.
They need to focus on SUVs and 2.5 seaters to take to the country club.
The E-Type 2+2 started a long sorry downward spiral. Wouldn’t a nice Mk2 or updated 140 drophead be nice?
Concur. Mostly Obamaite regulation has interfered in the free market with respect to such sedans. Never mind the large wagons. Ironically, the Cadillac CT6 is still being sold in Red China.
Anyone remember “Cash for clunkers” too? I saw lots of Chevy Caprices and the like end up on dealers’ lots thanks to the government.
My wife loved her Jag XJ — big sedan with a massive supercharged V8 — 500 something horsepower — stuck to the road far better than it had any business doing.
Until she couldn’t reach up to a drive-thru window consistently.
Now she drives a Range Rover.
I have a 2004 Jaguar XJR that I absolutely love, when it’s running😀.
Going all EV and soon going out of business.
The name “F-Pace” always makes me laugh. Let me explain. Jaguar used to run an F1 team, and they were slow when they departed the sport. F1 being a mostly European thing has commentators who spoke about how the Jaguar offerings lacked “Pace”. (Meaning they were slow).
FFWD to the launching of this road car. Was this Jaguar’s attempt at saying “We’re slow and we know it”? You know, F PACE!
Sad, but they are not alone.
Chrysler killed all their products too. Except a minivan which people are lining up to buy. (snort)
It wont be long before Jaguar and Chrysler joins Mercury, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac,and etc in that great wrecking yard in the sky
I-Pace, I rode in one last year around downtown Phoenix. It was quite the experience
What do they think will happen when their sales go to zero?.......
I had a 95 Caprice sedan, but unfortunately it had the 275 CID (4.3L) V8 and not the 350. Why they simply did not upgrade the older 305 CID, which was generally a solid motor itself, I cannot figure out. Was not pleased with the AC going on me before 100K either, or all four power windows going off track; the engine developing coolant leaks was the last straw.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.