Jaguar News

Jaguar Land Rover’s local boss says the British brands are not about to abandon Australia despite sliding sales of its vehicles.Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the new Jaguar XE and F-Pace SVR, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Australia managing director Mark Cameron said that while German prestige rivals may be selling more cars locally, JLR are not about to pack up and leave.“Categorically not. Absolutely not,” he said. “In the segments we compete in we get really good market share. If you look at absolute sales versus maybe BMW or Mercedes-Benz we’re a reasonable amount smaller, but there’s loads segments we don’t play in and choose not to play in. "We're not just chasing volume. For us and our dealers it's about profitable volume." July’s sales for Jaguar in Australia were down by 19.1 per cent compared to the same month last year, with 140 vehicles sold, and Land Rover’s figures dropped by 30 per cent with 510 sold. Comparatively, Mercedes-Benz and BMW sold 2792 and 1758 units respectively last month.“We saw the July figures still being down on last July and if you remember, last July was when we first really started sliding on the previous year. So, we’re watching carefully and hoping that government stimulus and putting money in people pockets from tax returns will start to bring a bit of confidence back,” Mr Cameron said. “We’re here for the long term and our brands have huge brand strength we know this from the studies that we do. So no, we’re not about to abandon Australia.”In year-to-date sales, Jaguar is actually slightly ahead of last year after seven months of trading, up 1.1 per cent to 1440 units, largely thanks to increases in sale of its E-Pace small SUV and F-Type sports car.Meanwhile, Land Rover has dropped 14.1 per cent of volume to 5690 units compared to last year. The Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque are performing well, but the remainder of its line-up continues to slide in sales.

A no-deal Brexit would make it difficult for Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing to continue in Britain, but jobs will remain, according to the company's Australian boss.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will reportedly leverage its existing relationship with BMW to build new small SUVs around the middle of the next decade.

BMW and Jaguar Land Rover are reportedly set to share petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains in a bid to save money.

Forget V8s, V12s, and petrol altogether - Jaguar is focusing on electricity as a means of propulsion, and the British luxury brand will be aiming squarely at the Tesla Model S with its upcoming all-electric XJ luxury model.

Jaguar has revealed what it's describing as the world's fastest production sedan, whipping the covers off the stonking XE SV Project 8 Touring.You'll remember the Project 8, I'm sure; the huge wing-wearing performance sedan limited to just 300 units.

Ian Callum will step down from his role as design director of Jaguar after working with the company for 20 years.Stepping down to “pursue other design projects”, Callum will be replaced by current creative design director Julian Thompson, though he will remain a consultant to the brand.Callum is credited with turning Jaguar into the modern brand it is today, and has produced quite a product resume: the XK (2006), XF (2007) and XF Sportbrake, XJ (2009), C-X75 concept (2010), F-Type (2012), F-Pace (2015) and I-Pace (2018). Callum began his career in 1979 by designing cars for Ford. After 11 years there, he left to head up TWR Design. In 1999, he succeeded the late Geoff Lawson as Jaguar’s director of design, and also directed Aston Martin design for a short time - the two brands were then part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group. He had a hand in shaping the Aston Martin DB7 and DB9, as well as the Vanquish. “I came into this role with a mission to take Jaguar design back to where it deserved to be. It has taken 20 years, but I believe I have achieved what I set out to do, ” Callum said.  “Given the strength of both our products and the design team I feel that now is the right time to move on, both personally and professionally, and explore other design projects. Designing Jaguar cars was a lifelong dream for me.”Callum's successor, Julian Thompson, has been at Jaguar since 2000 and also worked at Ford. Thompson's CV also includes roles as head of design for Lotus and chief of exterior design at the Volkswagen Group.

Just a year after its 50th anniversary, Jaguar will end the production of the XJ saloon at its ancestral home of Castle Bromwich in July.

Jaguar has revealed a facelifted version of its XE mid-sizer, with updated styling and technology, but most importantly, a new model lineup with just two variants on offer.Unlike the previous XE, which offered up to 11 individual models for buyers to choose from, the updated model offers just two - the $65,670 SE R-Dynamic and the $71,490 HSE R-Dynamic - and unlike the previous model, a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol with an eight-speed automatic transmission will be the sole engine option. The XE’s equipment levels have also been upgraded to compete with the new BMW 3 Series. The SE R-Dynamic now includes 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery with powered front seats, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, lane keep assist, DAB+ digital radio and an upgraded media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The HSE R-Dynamic then adds a larger multimedia screen, 19-inch alloy wheels, a 380W 11-speaker Meridian sound system, high-speed autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, 18-way electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s memory functionality and a powered steering column.Jaguar Land Rover Australia spokesperson James Scrimshaw indicated to CarsGuide that range simplification is on the table for future products.“We have taken the opportunity to revise our line up as part of the Jaguar XE 20MY mid-cycle refresh,” said Mr Scrimshaw. “I can’t go into detail about our future model plans, but we will be looking at some further rationalisation going forward.” So far in 2019, Jaguar XE sales are up by 19.0 per cent to 125 units in a market down 8.1 per cent. However, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is currently sitting on 2,094 units for the year, which is up by 31.1 per cent. 

April’s cooling weather may be the perfect time to take to the road in a new vehicle made for the long-haul holiday. There is a fresh crop of SUVs on the market and with it, a few great deals to sweeten the purchase. Here’s some deals to help you get out and explore.