The New Jaguar X-TYPE 2.0D
Published: 15th June 2003
As Jaguar’s first foray into the compact saloon segment, the X-TYPE has been one of the key elements in driving Jaguar’s recent sales success. Introduced in May 2001 in the UK and Continental Europe and launched in North America in July 2001, the X-TYPE is now sold in some seventy markets worldwide.
Initially with two engine choices - 2.5 litre and 3.0 litre V6 petrol, both mated to Traction-4 all-wheel drive- the X-TYPE range expanded in 2002 with the 2 litre V6 petrol option, with front-wheel drive. This brought even greater accessibility, but still with 100 per cent Jaguar values.
The X-TYPE is a direct competitor for premium cars like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, Jaguar's aggressive pricing also positions the X-TYPE as an alternative to higher specification volume saloons.
A significant percentage of X-TYPE buyers are new to Jaguar and often display different purchase criteria from the marque's more traditional customers. Many are younger than previous Jaguar owners and they include a significant number of user-chooser company car drivers. For many of these drivers, the X-TYPE proved the opportunity they had been waiting for - a Jaguar that met all of their needs, including affordability and lower running costs.
The X-TYPE has also proved popular with long-time Jaguar enthusiasts, including many slightly older drivers who lead active lives and enjoy driving for pleasure. They have more personal time and space as families have grown up and left home – the classic 'empty nester'.
The new 2.0D brings a whole new dimension to the X-TYPE range. It retains all the core Jaguar virtues while making the X-TYPE (and the Jaguar marque) a viable choice for the large - and still growing – number of drivers looking for a refined diesel-powered prestige car with accessible real world performance and a high degree of luxury. Crucially, the 2.0D acknowledges the whole-life advantages of the diesel alternative – and that diesel is an alternative rather than an automatic choice.
To summarise, the diesel-powered X-TYPE does exactly what it was designed to do: it extends the appeal of the X-TYPE even further, and makes Jaguar ownership an option for more buyers.
