X-Type soon to be ex-type?

Newswheel staff :: 02 February 2006 :: Filed under Saloon, Jaguar, Jaguar X-Type, Europe & UK, US

[Click on an image to view]

End is nigh for Jaguar’s Mondeo-based compact saloon

Chintzy exterior styling, a naff interior and a hand-me-down Mondeo platform with front-wheel drive chassis dynamics. Quite a lot for the Jaguar X-Type to be getting on with. And hardly a recipe for domination in the painfully competitive exec saloon market. A replacement for the current X-Type was originally pencilled in for 2007. But it’s looking increasing likely that Jaguar will pull out of the sector altogether. And now there’s news that Jaguar will cease selling the X-Type in North America at the end of the year.

The story comes from US rag Motor Trend, who originally reported on the X-Type’s likely demise back in May. Motor Trend’s latest piece claims a decision on the X-Type’s future in the US has now been made. Sales will cease at year’s end. Apparently, no final decision has been made regarding the X-Type’s future here in the UK. And there are also rumours of a contingency plan to launch an all-new X-Type in 2010. But with the current car’s sales already atrophying, there’s only so long the X-Type can survive, even in its home market.

Linkage:
Motor Trend via Leftlane News