irishcar.com - Jaguar X-Type at Geneva

Yes, it probably was the Star of the Show to many of us, particularly those who could recall driving the 240 'small' Jaguar to which the X-Type is the spiritual successor. And to see it in the metal for the first time at Geneva was a pleasant experience.

The X-type should make BMW and Mercedes-Benz shiver ever so slightly. Because for the first time in a motoring eon, there is now a real 'image' badge competitor in the executive segment where both those Germans have had it all their own way. And when it makes its presence really felt, it will probably rankle them much that the predatory cat prowling in their midst is a Ford company flagship.

The lines are classic Jaguar. Flowing and aptly feline. The style is from today for tomorrow. One which will age rather well, I would think. And there's a neat counterpoint in the versions available in that the 'Sport' versions are chromless. Less is more, so to speak.

And just while we're on the more, no Irish prices have yet been announced. But the Stg£22,000-Stg£26,250 range revealed at Geneva for the UK spell a very competitive possibility for the Irish market against the established marques. We live in hope.

Back to the car. The exterior looks purr for themselves. But I'd be careful of the colour chosen, because at least to my eyes the red version on display among the Geneva cats didn't look as well as the silver.

The interior, though, is simply gorgeous. With the nostrils tickled by a really strong smell of leather as I opened the door, I was absorbed by the whole creaminess and dark wood of it all. A black-leathered steering wheel mercifully devoid of all accoutrements except the volume controls for the radio and phone.

The basic instruments in green on black are crisp and clear, while the central stack/console is dominated by a large touch-screen which can be a phone-dial pad, a navigation viewer, climate controller and sound system manager depending on need. All these can also be managed by a voice-actuation option. And an optional 'JaguarNet' system mixes GSM and GPS technologies to provide emergency roadside assistance and access to local information.

There's a complete absence of clutter. The X-Type is making a statement from the beginning that this is a driver's car. Though any passengers will feel quite cosseted, there's no question that they are simply along for the ride.

It should be a safe ride, and a fun one. Conscious of how much BMW make of the fact (and Lexus too) that they are 'drivers cars' by virtue of being rear-wheel-drive in a sea of FWD prolecars, Jaguar took the unusual idea that their new car would be full-time 4WD from the beginning, with 60% of torque directed towards the rear wheels. Straight away they won technological points. And, no doubt, when we get a chance to ride the beast, we'll find that it has the edge on handling too.

Through a standard 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed autobox, this system will take the power from a pair of V6s in 2.5- and 3-litre forms, derived from those already used in the S-Type. Outputting 194bhp and 231bhp respectively, they should be both tractable and fun to use, with 90% of torque coming in at 2,500rpm. The manual 2.5 can accelerate 0-62mph in 7.9secs, while the larger engine car does it in 6.6secs. Fuel consumption ranges 27-29mpg.

Of course, the usual achronymical gizmos are present: ABS, electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and an optional dynamic stability control (DSC). The suspension system on the X-Type includes a brand-new fully independent torsion control link system on the rear, and settings on the Sport versions are tauter than on the more leisurely siblings.

Passive safety elements include dual front and side airbags, and curtain airbags for front and rear occupants. If the JaguarNet system is in the car, it will automatically summon assistance in the event of a crash.

The new car is being built at the refurbished Halewood plant on Merseyside following a £300 million investment. Over 50% of all X-Type sales will be to Europe this year, while the US will take 30%. The company expects the new car will double the marque's sales when in full production, against last year's 90,000 sales worldwide. It comes with a 3-year/60,000 miles warranty.

It may well the the opposition which will growl and the people at Jaguar will be doing the purring.

Jaguar compact cat purrs in
Yes, it probably was the Star of the Show to many of us, particularly those who could recall driving the 240 'small' Jaguar to which the X-Type is the spiritual successor. And to see it in the metal for the first time at Geneva was a pleasant experience. The X-type should make BMW and Mercedes-Benz shiver ever so slightly. Because for the first time in a motoring eon, there is now a real 'image' badge competitor in the executive segment where both those Germans have had it all their own way. And when it makes its presence really felt, it will probably rankle them much that the predatory cat prowling in their midst is a Ford company flagship. The lines are classic Jaguar. Flowing and aptly feline. The style is from today for tomorrow. One which will age rather well, I would think. And there's a neat counterpoint in the versions available in that the 'Sport' versions are chromless. Less is more, so to speak. And just while we're on the more, no Irish prices have yet been announced. But the Stg£22,000-Stg£26,250 range revealed at Geneva for the UK spell a very competitive possibility for the Irish market against the established marques. We live in hope. Back to the car. The exterior looks purr for themselves. But I'd be careful of the colour chosen, because at least to my eyes the red version on display among the Geneva cats didn't look as well as the silver. The interior, though, is simply gorgeous. With the nostrils tickled by a really strong smell of leather as I opened the door, I was absorbed by the whole creaminess and dark wood of it all. A black-leathered steering wheel mercifully devoid of all accoutrements except the volume controls for the radio and phone. The basic instruments in green on black are crisp and clear, while the central stack/console is dominated by a large touch-screen which can be a phone-dial pad, a navigation viewer, climate controller and sound system manager depending on need. All these can also be managed by a voice-actuation option. And an optional 'JaguarNet' system mixes GSM and GPS technologies to provide emergency roadside assistance and access to local information. There's a complete absence of clutter. The X-Type is making a statement from the beginning that this is a driver's car. Though any passengers will feel quite cosseted, there's no question that they are simply along for the ride. It should be a safe ride, and a fun one. Conscious of how much BMW make of the fact (and Lexus too) that they are 'drivers cars' by virtue of being rear-wheel-drive in a sea of FWD prolecars, Jaguar took the unusual idea that their new car would be full-time 4WD from the beginning, with 60% of torque directed towards the rear wheels. Straight away they won technological points. And, no doubt, when we get a chance to ride the beast, we'll find that it has the edge on handling too. Through a standard 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed autobox, this system will take the power from a pair of V6s in 2.5- and 3-litre forms, derived from those already used in the S-Type. Outputting 194bhp and 231bhp respectively, they should be both tractable and fun to use, with 90% of torque coming in at 2,500rpm. The manual 2.5 can accelerate 0-62mph in 7.9secs, while the larger engine car does it in 6.6secs. Fuel consumption ranges 27-29mpg. Of course, the usual achronymical gizmos are present: ABS, electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and an optional dynamic stability control (DSC). The suspension system on the X-Type includes a brand-new fully independent torsion control link system on the rear, and settings on the Sport versions are tauter than on the more leisurely siblings. Passive safety elements include dual front and side airbags, and curtain airbags for front and rear occupants. If the JaguarNet system is in the car, it will automatically summon assistance in the event of a crash. The new car is being built at the refurbished Halewood plant on Merseyside following a £300 million investment. Over 50% of all X-Type sales will be to Europe this year, while the US will take 30%. The company expects the new car will double the marque's sales when in full production, against last year's 90,000 sales worldwide. It comes with a 3-year/60,000 miles warranty. It may well the the opposition which will growl and the people at Jaguar will be doing the purring.	March 2001 by Brian Byrne.

Jaguar compact cat purrs in