New Jaguar model lines coming

JAGUAR will add more model lines to its range over the coming years as it looks to take a bigger slice of the premium segment, but the company’s design chief says not to expect anything new in the next year and a half.

The Indian-owned British car-maker has just launched its critical F-Pace crossover – Jaguar’s first SUV – which has followed on from the second-generation XF sedan earlier this year and the XE mid-sizer from last year.

Rumours have been swirling for some time that Jaguar would further expand its line-up with another crossover – possibly using an electric powertrain – and a smaller passenger car to sit below the XE, but nothing has been confirmed.

Speaking with GoAuto at the Australian launch of the F-Pace in Byron Bay last week, Jaguar design director Ian Callum confirmed that more model lines were on the way, but added that it could be a while before the mystery model or models go public.

“We are looking at doing other car lines, not necessarily SUVs,” he said. “We are looking at everything at the moment. We have increased our car lines from three to five in the last year, which includes three new cars. What we needed to do is broaden our base and that is what we are looking to do.

“But you won’t see anything for a little while because we have done so much in the last 18 months, so much for a car company of our size, it is an extraordinary amount of work. But we are getting noticed, our volume is definitely going to go up and it will be a good 18 months before you see anything else, at least.”

Mr Callum – who is credited with reinvigorating the brand though his designs for the 2006 XK sportscar, the 2008 XF sedan and more recently the F-Type sportscar – said he “couldn’t say” whether the models would be something completely new for the brand, but confirmed refreshed versions of existing models were in the pipeline.

“There are facelifts and things to look forward to,” he said.

“We are already working on XF and XE facelift, because that is what we need to do because of the timespan it takes.”

Left: Jaguar design director Ian Callum.It is unclear when we will see the XE or XF facelifts but it is unlikely to be any time soon given how recently they two models had their global launches.

In terms of other new model lines, one option could be a sub-XE small car that would rival the likes of Audi’s A3, BMW’s 1 Series and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, a segment Mr Callum has previously told journalists he is interested in.

Other possibilities include a sub-F-Pace SUV that GoAuto reported last year could be built by Austrian vehicle-builder Magna Steyr, as well as a larger SUV to sit above the F-Pace that could use a diesel-electric powertrain.

Whatever form Jaguar’s new models take, it is expected they will retain the same styling language as the current range, with a prominent front grille, angular headlights, sculpted bonnet, muscular flanks and athletic proportions.

Mr Callum said that the current design language he introduced has given Jaguar a clear brand identity, something it had struggled with in the past.

“In the modern day if you want to create a brand you need to have unity amongst the products. You wouldn’t buy a Louis Vuitton bag without the pattern or Burberry without the pattern somewhere. There has got to be some link. And the strongest one is the front face – for the moment.”

He added that the now-familiar Jaguar ‘look’ will develop further in the future but he expected it to be more a gradual evolution rather than a complete brand transformation.

“It will change I am sure. But I would rather evolve now rather than just somebody coming along and just start afresh again, I think that would be a mistake.

“I think we have worked hard to get some good foundations here. It is the strongest the brand has ever known in its history frankly. It’s never had this many cars before. It’s a grown-up car company now.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to revolutionise it (design). It needed a revolution because it was just everywhere, it was a mix of everything. But once we have our foundations in I think it would be nice to continue to… be brave… evolve it dramatically, but evolve it, don’t just tear it up and start again. We are not Ford or Volkswagen and create a whole new face every five years. A luxury brand needs that stability.”