Things have been on quite a cracking roll for JLR recently.
Things have been on quite a cracking roll for JLR recently. New cars, excellent PR, record-breaking sales figures and the brand image has risen consistently over the years. All of which has instilled confidence in the manufacturer to come with exciting cars – like the 2017 Jaguar XE, which made its US debut at the Detroit Auto Show.
We have been following up on the little Jag since its auto show starring moments in 2014. Quite an impeccable piece of machinery it is as the XE blends form and function in the typical British way. Many have been patiently waiting for the mini-Jag which is being sharpened to take on the German trio of Merc edes Benz CLA, Audi A3 and the BMW 3-Series all of which by the way are competent machines on their own right.
Powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 340bhp of stallion attitude and 332 pound-feet of torque, the XE can launch into a 0-96kph sprint in 5.1 seconds. The top speed has been electronically limited to the standard issue 250kph. An ZF eight-speed automatic with paadle shifters has been strapped on to harness the beast. If you are more into economy over tarmac-tearing, then a range of 4 cylinder engined versions of the XE are also being readied. Though rear wheel drive is the norm of the range, four wheel drive has been kept as an option to those who seek additional thrills.
Expected to hit showrooms across the world by mid-2015, the Jaguar XE also features on Jaguar India’s launch plans. With all three German marques already in the race with their “budget” sedans, the buyer who is on the lookout for something that stands out from the understated Audi, the flashy Merc and the driver’s Beemer can try a bit of British engineering and flamboyance for a change.
The new Jaguar ad featuring Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Strong and the extremely likeable Tom Hiddleston can give you a dozen more reasons on the Jaguar’s appeal.
In other news, JLR has sold a record-breaking 462,678 cars in 2014. Posting a 9 percent improvement over the previous year, JLR is savouring the glory of the best sales year in its history. Jaguar brand alone sold 81,570 cars which is a 6 percent leap compared to 2013. With the XE launch, the prospects for 2015 are looking brighter already.