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Jaguar to stay…Aston Martin to go
By James Russel
Great news for Jaguar fanatics: Ford President Mulally has recently announced that Jaguar is no longer for sale. Aston Martin however, will be under a new owner by the end of this year.
Mulally, who joined Ford last year after working for 37 years at plane-maker Boeing, told reporters, "Jaguar is not for sale at this time" ---this statement of the new boss doesn't necessarily mean that they are closing the possibility for future Jaguar sale. CEO Mulally just wants to give Jaguar a chance to fully re-establish itself and the new XF sports sedan is going to be used as the key model in revitalizing the range of Jaguars.
The XF sports sedan has made its worldwide debut at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car but according to managing director Bibiana Boeiro the car would be produced by early 2008, as replacement for the S-Type. It will also be using the XF nameplate and will be equipped with only top-of-the-line Ford auto parts like Ford tie rod end.
The C-XF is a design venture between Jaguar design director Ian Callum and advanced design studio boss Julian Thompson. The C-XF was the sort of car Jaguar that Ford should have been making for some time. This car represents a break from the overt retro styling of the XJ, S-Type and X-Type models, using clever design cues to create a new look for the struggling Jaguar brand.
According to Callum the design philosophy behind the XF is: "Sports sedans were Jaguar's mantle with cars such as the Mk2 and Series 1 XJ of the 1960s – and we're having it back! But we're not harking back to another era for the sake of it. Instead we need to recognize design elements and move forward in a modern and contemporary way."
He further stated that the car's core design values were "purity, visual dynamism and beauty" and the low roof and wedge-shaped lower body of the XF gives the impression of visual latent power. The interior features a very different take on Jaguar's traditional wood and leather finish. The XF still makes use of the wood and leather finish but the wood has been scorched black while the leather has been treated to look more like carbon fiber. It's definitely far from the burr walnut and cream Connolly hides.
The XF is just one of the series of new cars under development that will replace all three Jaguar salons by the end of the decade. By the year 2009 a new breed of XJ Jaguars will be produced and said to be more radical than the XF. The rumored Land Rover Freelander–based crossover vehicle that will replace the X-Type is also coming as confirmed by Jaguar executives during the Detroit Auto Show.
About the Author
James Russel grew up in Los Angeles and is 35 years old. He works as a marketing analyst for a supplier of automotive parts in the United States. On his spare time, he loves to spruce up his vehicle. You can visit Ford tie rod end for more information.
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