Photo: Jaguar
Jaguar's next-generation XJ model is expected to come to market in late 2019 or early 2020. By that time, the company is considering shifting its position in the segment.
According to company insiders who have chosen to remain unnamed, Jaguar is pondering whether to turn the next XJ into a Porsche Panamera competitor. This would mean a shift from its current position, of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival. The difference between the two areas of the market segment would mean changing the shape of the XJ, as well as an altered road behavior.
As the Australians at Car Advice note, Jaguar's XJ is on par with the Porsche Panamera by weight, and the British model is lighter than the equivalent Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Maserati Quattroporte models.
The mass difference between the XJ and the S-Class is clearly a favorable point for the British model, but if Jaguar wants to compete with Porsche, the brand is expected to make the XJ even lighter.
At the time of its market introduction, the XJ was one of the first models in the segment to be available with an aluminum body. The innovative approach allowed Jaguar to provide a lower weight, thus providing improved fuel economy and dynamic behavior.
On the other hand, rival automakers have caught up with Jaguar on the lightweight part, even if their models are not on par with the XJ. This would mean that the British brand would have to go the extra mile to make the next generation even lighter and agiler.
On the other hand, Jaguar is set to introduce hybrid technology in the next XJ, since all the other models in the segment feature some form of hybridization. The brand from Coventry will have to come up with a system that will improve fuel economy and performance while keeping weight down, a difficult task.
We must note that the information regarding the shift of the Jaguar XJ' market positioning is a rumor that comes from an unnamed insider. This means that the brand might change its mind by 2019, or that Jaguar could develop a different body style for the XJ on top of the saloon.
As the Australians at Car Advice note, Jaguar's XJ is on par with the Porsche Panamera by weight, and the British model is lighter than the equivalent Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Maserati Quattroporte models.
The mass difference between the XJ and the S-Class is clearly a favorable point for the British model, but if Jaguar wants to compete with Porsche, the brand is expected to make the XJ even lighter.
At the time of its market introduction, the XJ was one of the first models in the segment to be available with an aluminum body. The innovative approach allowed Jaguar to provide a lower weight, thus providing improved fuel economy and dynamic behavior.
On the other hand, rival automakers have caught up with Jaguar on the lightweight part, even if their models are not on par with the XJ. This would mean that the British brand would have to go the extra mile to make the next generation even lighter and agiler.
On the other hand, Jaguar is set to introduce hybrid technology in the next XJ, since all the other models in the segment feature some form of hybridization. The brand from Coventry will have to come up with a system that will improve fuel economy and performance while keeping weight down, a difficult task.
We must note that the information regarding the shift of the Jaguar XJ' market positioning is a rumor that comes from an unnamed insider. This means that the brand might change its mind by 2019, or that Jaguar could develop a different body style for the XJ on top of the saloon.
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