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Tata considering new entry-level Jaguar

By Tim Beissmann |

Tata vice chairman, Ravi Kant, has told UK automotive website Autocar that a new entry-level Jaguar is in the brand’s current planning discussions.

Mr Kant and Tata Motors CEO, Carl-Peter Forster, are reviewing the Jaguar Land Rover product line-up at the moment and planning future expansion.

“We’re having a debate about a small car. It has to happen if you want to keep the brand alive. We need an entry-level car,” Mr Kant said.

The Jaguar XE is set to hit the road within three years, but it is uncertain if that platform could be used to make a small car.

Jaguar’s most recent entry-level attempt was with the (unsuccessful) X-Type which was loosely based on the Mondeo platform, back when the British marque was still owned by Ford.

Tata is determined not to drag its feet with any plans however, with Mr Kant telling Autocar the company has been too slow to react in the past.

“Our key advantages should be speed to market and agility. That should be the DNA of any small company.”

(with Autocar)


 
  • Baddass

    A small good looking coupe is a good place to start.

    • rocket_v6

      thats what they are planning

  • Shak

    If they can style it right(shouldn’t be too hard), and market it well, it will be a hit like the XF, and XK.

  • Andrew M

    And Tatas hand in the company is finally starting to show.

    I can see many Jaguar owners cringing at the thought of cheapening the Jaguar image.
    Jaguar has never sold as a mass produced vehicle, and if it does they wont be able to ask the high end price tags anymore as the true loyalists will leave them.

    Cheapening the levels will take away exclusivity, and for such a brand could be disasterous

    • Myke

      If you remember it was Ford that was attempting to mass produce Jaguars in an attempt to rival Mercedes and BMW, why do you think they created the X-Type?

      • Andrew M

        And its about to get cheaper……..enough said

        • Shak

          No it isnt. Jaguars whole philosophy, is to try and revive the old image of exclusivity and sportiness.

          • Andrew M

            How can exclusivity be increased if they are going to bring down the price tag???

          • Shak

            A morgan is more exclusive than an S600 but can you tell me which costs more. Remember the rich amongst us still like value for money, so why not a cheaper JAaaaaaaag.

    • john

      Most makers have volume selling models but they have not seen any impact on the image of their top dogs whatsoever. BMW and Mercedes have sedans at over $300k and volume seller versions at around $50k. Does somebody drive around in their 760 or S600 lamenting that the 320i and C200 have cheapened the brand and their cars don’t have an air of exclusivity/class etc? I don’t think so!

      • Andrew

        Yeah but to be fair, neither BMW nor Mercedes are as ‘exclusive’ as Jaguar, because of cars like the ones that you mention. So something may not actually cross the mind of said 760 or S600 owner.

        • Handsome Al

          I agree with Andrew there, Let’s Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Alfa, etc create one single model only but in a very high quality and reliability product to keep their “Exclusivity”, and let Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cars to fill the mass-market. Fair Share.. One question though, have you argued the idea of jaguar introduced the X-Type back then? Because it is the entry level aimed at mass-market, have you argued the idea of S-type as well? Because it is also aimed at mass-market? If you want exclusivity, buy a Wiesmann.

  • GT

    Finaly!… its about time they replaced the x-type

  • Kenn

    This base low cost Jag would be made in India probably at Tata plant.

    • Shak

      Nothing wrong with that. Audi and MB have plants in India and no one seems to complain about them.

  • http://www.carpeople.com.au Car People

    The majority of vehicle assembly operations are performed by robots these days and robots don’t know what country they are working in!

    Jaguar have produced some great vehicles lately and I hope this continues with Tata ownership.