11 April 2002: Irish prices for the 2-litre ‘entry level’ X-Type Jaguar were announced yesterday, with the Classic specification at 42,865 euros, the Sport at 47,865 euros and the Luxury version at 49,565 euros.

Some 50-60% of all X-Types in the future are expected to be bought with the new V6 engine, which is actually a 2.1-litre for taxation purposes. The engine is a derivative of the 2.5- and 3-litre AJ6 engines already used in the car.

Jaguar Ireland also launched the upgraded S-Type model in Ireland, with the 2.5-litre V6 as a new entry version, starting that range at 53,450 euros.

Major changes have also been made to the styling, interior and suspension of the S-Type in its first significant revision. At the very top level, the old 4-litre V8 has been rebuilt as a 4.2-litre, and a supercharged R version will be available in Ireland in a couple of weeks’ time.

During the rest of the year, perhaps 100 copies of each of the newly launched cars will be sold here, according to Jaguar Ireland MD Gerard O’Farrell.

“The important thing is that we now have a range of Jaguars which suit a greater spread of potential buyers,” he said yesterday. “We can now meet head to head the full gamut of 3-Series BMW saloons in engine terms, for instance. And the R S-Type is in power terms the equivalent of the M5 BMW, but in a much different and very refined way.”

©2002irishcar.com