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Ford now plans to focus on stabilising its global operations and making the most out of its platforms. The automaker calls it the “One Ford” global transformation.

Once the minor details are worked out, Jaguar and Land Rover will be in Tata’s hands by the end of the next quarter. Ford has disclosed the final sale price at around US $2.3billion. However Ford will still contribute around US $600 million to the Jaguar Land Rover pension plans.

“Jaguar and Land Rover are terrific brands, we are confident that they are leaving our fold with the products, plan and team to continue to thrive under Tata’s stewardship. Now, it is time for Ford to concentrate on integrating the Ford brand globally, as we implement our plan to create a strong Ford Motor Company that delivers profitable growth for all.” said Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “

Nevertheless, the link between Ford and its former subsidiaries will not be easily broken, Ford has agreed to supply Jaguar and Land Rover with powertrains, stampings and other vehicle components for a set period of time.

Ford will also supply environmental and platform technologies plus R&D, information technology, accounting and more.

“This is a good agreement. It provides the Jaguar Land Rover management team and employees with the assurances needed to maintain their focus on delivering the best results for the business, I am confident that, under its new owner, Jaguar Land Rover will continue to build upon the significant improvements and product successes it has achieved in recent years.” said Lewis Booth, executive vice president, Ford Motor Company, who has responsibility for Ford of Europe, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover.

It will be interesting to see how these two brands will work when Ford no longer supplies the parts. The company’s credit division, Ford Motor Credit, has also agreed to continue financing for Jaguar and Land Rover dealers and customers for up to 12 months.

Not all at Jaguar & Land Rover see this as a bad thing, many insiders believe that under Tata control, they will feel a sense of freedom to develop their own stand-alone capabilities.

Both Tata and Ford were quick to point out that there are currently no plans for significant changes to Jaguar Land Rover employees’ terms of employment on completion.

As for Tata? Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, said:

“We are very pleased at the prospect of Jaguar Land Rover being a significant part of our automotive business. We have enormous respect for the two brands and will endeavour to preserve and build on their heritage and competitiveness, keeping their identities intact. We aim to support their growth, while holding true to our principles of allowing the management and employees to bring their experience and expertise to bear on the growth of the business.”

No matter how you look at it, the future of Jaguar and Land Rover is exciting. There is the prospect for enormous success, or massive failure, only time will tell.

Here is a brief historical overview of Tata’s milestones:

• 1945 - Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co Ltd (TELCO) is set up as a locomotive maker at the end of World War Two
• 1954 - Begins making trucks after forming a partnership with Germany’s Daimler-Benz
• 1977 - Tata builds its first Commercial vehicles.
• 1994 - Begins making Mercedes Benz cars in India
• 1998 - Launches the Indica, the home made Indian car
• 2001 - No more work done with Daimle
• 2002 - Changes name from TELCO to Tata Motors Ltd
• 2003 - Announces plan to build world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano for 100,000 rupees ($2,500 USD)
• 2004 - Buys up South Korea’s Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co, and lists on the New York Stock Exchange.
• 2005 - Attains a 21 percent share holding in Spanish bus maker Hispano Carrocera SA
• 2006 - Begins work with fiat having signed a distribution agreement. Also enters into a venture with Brazilian bus maker Marcopolo
• 2008 - Acquires Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford

What do you think the future holds for the British brands?

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So far, the XF has been claiming awards overseas. It has bagged the What Car 2008 “Car of the Year” Award, in addition to the “Car of the Year” from the Sun newspaper and the “Interior of the Year” from Car magazine.

“The interest in XF - before anybody in this country has even driven the car - has been very satisfying. If things continue in this way, we may have sold out our entire 2008 allocation before a single vehicle is on the road here. What is also encouraging is that the XF is attracting a new group of customers to the Jaguar brand: more than three-quarters of those who are contacting us about XF have never owned a Jaguar before.” said Dorian Lapthorne, General Manager, Jaguar Australia.

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“Our plan would be to retain the image, the touch and the feel of Jaguar and Land Rover. We will not tinker with the brands in any way. They are special global brands and whoever acquires them has a responsibility to nurture them and enable them to prosper,” Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata said..

Surely we will still call Land Rover and Jaguar British brands if they are still built in Britain despite foreign ownership, after all, isn’t Holden in exactly the same scenario?

“We are conscious that the brands belong to Britain. These brands will continue to belong to Britain,” Tata said.

Tata said he is excited by what Jaguar and Land Rover have in mind for future models and hence will keep the brands’ existing managements in place.

With the sale expected to finalise in the next few weeks, Tata Motors has began making arrangements for $3 billion in loans. The company has assigned its advisers, Citigroup and JPMorgan to begin arranging the financing.

Although $1 billion more than the price of Jaguar and Land Rover, sources indicate the extra cash is needed for working capital.

The two British Marquees have been on sale since June 2007 with the Ford announcing Tata as the preferred bidder in January this year.

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Not only was it drop dead gorgeous (still is) but also, the E-Type was a genuine 150mph sports car, which retailed for thousands less than anything from Porsche or Ferrari at the time.

A TV commercial in the United States agreed with Enzo and described the car perfectly:

“This is no ordinary motor car, this is the Jaguar E-Type, a concept so beautiful it has been displayed in the Museum of Modern Art.

A concept so strong its forbears won the “24-hour Le Mans Grand Prix of Endurance “five times”.

It is what Bach was to music, what Rodin was to sculpture.

The Jaguar E-Type, the highest expression of automotive art”

But if you’re thinking, well that’s old news and Jags have been out-styled by the competition from Germany these days, then not only would you be part of a minority but you’re most probably a citizen of Germany!

That’s right. In 2007, the worlds biggest selling car magazine, German title, Auto Motor und Sport and 16,000 of their loyal readers, named the Jaguar XJ as the ‘Most Beautiful Luxury Saloon’ in the world. The victory was all the more sweet, given the competition from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Jaguar is a company steeped in eighty years of tradition and a lot of that time, on a racetrack.

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No longer is Jaguar designing cars for old men, the XF gives the brand a fresh and modern start for a new chapter.

Click through to read more on the new Jaguar XF.

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“There is no need for it. Ford really wants to concentrate on its North American operations, that is the whole reason why it is selling Jaguar and Land Rover.”

The Indian media are reporting that Tata Motors is preparing for an outright purchase of the brands, tipped to be worth between $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion.

“Ford has decided not to retain a minority stake, as it is convinced about the future development of these two brands in the hands of the Tatas,”

Ford has maintained a minority stake in Aston Martin when it sold the luxury carmaker last March, although Tata will continue to use Ford engines and other parts in the future, this is as far as Ford’s involvement will go following the sale.

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“Jaguar is creating a new generation of cars that started with the XK, and now continues with the all-new XF - a four door, five passenger car that has the heart of a sports car and the looks of a grand tourer. Like the XK, XF is visually striking and thrilling to drive.”

Following its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September, the Jaguar XF is available to order now with Australian deliveries beginning in June.

Other winners included a double for Volkswagen with the Golf 1.4 TSI named “Best Small Family Car” for the second year running and the Eos 2.0 TSI taking out “Best Open Top Car”.

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Despite having turned around their balance sheet by $1.6 billion, and with both marques producing exceptional vehicles such as the LRX Concept from Land Rover, Ford has left both companies on the market - to little interest.

India’s Tata Motors remains as the only bidder with its $2.05 billion offer. Presumably with the release of these figures, Ford is hoping it will attract more bidders together with a higher price tag.

This wouldn’t be the first time the cash-strapped US manufacturer has sold off a profitable subsidiary, with Aston Martin fetching $931 million last August.

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Every model will feature Jaguar’s six-speed sequential shift system with steering wheel-mounted ‘paddles’ for manual gear selection capable of changing gears quicker than even the acclaimed XK’s transmission.

Click through for more info and pictures of the Jaguar XF.

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