24 April 2001: Jaguar's new X-TYPE, the latest and smallest car from the top car maker, will have a starting price in Ireland of £36,100 ex-works, irishcar.com can reveal.

It will go on sale here towards the end of May and there will be a 2.5-litre V6 as well as a 3-litre version. Equipment levels will be high and four-wheel-drive is standard on all versions, creating a first in this compact executive sector.

The car is a direct competitor for the BMW-3 series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS200 and Audi A4. And, we can exclusively reveal from Dijon in France, they all have a serious new competitor to contend with. The car is beautifully crafted and is much roomier inside than most of its major competitors.

Jaguar expect to sell as many as 300 in a full year in Ireland. But it is seen as the springboard for a phenomenal increase in its global sales - bringing them from a current 100,000 to 200,000 within the next few years, senior executives told irishcar.com late Monday evening.

The X-TYPE is being described as the most important car in the famous marque's history, bringing it into uncharted territory and a whole new 'volume' market. They expect 40% of buyers to come from within the current segment, 40% from trade-ups and 20% from existing larger Jaguars. But it is also expected to dramatically lower the age profile of the Jaguar buyer - to an all-time low of between 42 and 45.

The X-TYPE is also seen as being a car to attract women drivers with as many as 40% of sales ultimately targeted at the female owner.

Eddie Irvine told us here last night (Monday) that the S-TYPE handles 'near perfectly'. In his typical understated way he said: "At no stage do you think you are going to lose this car."

Senior executives remain a little sensitive about parallels being drawn between the X-TYPE and its Ford connections. One insisted: "Nothing that the customer touches or feels is anything other than a Jaguar."

Being more specific on its prime targets, a Jaguar spokesman said the BMW 325 and 330 are the cars in the new Cat's sights. It should be a battle worth seeing.

And it should start as soon as the first new cars arrive towards the end of May. CFC

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