Jaguar wants to stay exclusive while rapidly growing model lines

By Miles Branman January 4, 2016

2016 Jaguar XJ — 2016 Jaguar XJ Image used with permission by copyright holder

Jaguar’s head of design, Ian Callum, has stated that the XJ will be replaced and the British automaker is planning to build out its model range soon, according to Autocar.

“The reality is a capacity issue. It’s the biggest restraint,” he said.

Jaguar/Land Rover’s annual sales will hit capacity of around 650,000 units across its three UK factories as soon as the newly-revealed XE sedan and F-Pace crossover hit their production stride. JLR also plans to add a new factory in Slovakia in 2018.

“JLR doesn’t want to be BMW or Audi in size,” Callum said. “Chasing volume relentlessly is a problem. We don’t have aspirations for more than a million a year between us. You can lose prestige.”

Porsche and Ferrari have expressed similar concerns about maintaining exclusivity, albeit in even smaller numbers. Though that may be the brand’s present sentiment, surely BMW and other German luxury manufacturers had similar thoughts at one point. While Jaguar/Land Rover has been around a while, only after Tata took ownership and reliability issues were shored up did the brands really hit sales milestones. Opinions about scale could change over time.

Callum said Jaguar doesn’t wish to build multiple bodystyles of the same car (as BMW tends to do) but will instead add a variety of model lines. “We’d like to do more volume of the cars we’ve got. That’s where growth will come from: additional lines.”

Beyond mentioning that the XJ would be replaced in the not-too-distant future, Callum noted that his team was “continuously talking about a smaller Jaguar,” though there aren’t any current production plans for a sub-XE.

The XJ’s design still has a place in Callum’s heart, though. “People think it’s brand new if they haven’t seen it before.” Apparently the automaker wants to make the successor more practical, but Callum asserted that style is equally important.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.