Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake
#1
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Ford, Jaguar, Design/Style, Luxury
![](http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1259x844+9+0/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/5997bef5e448237cf0ec13f9835cd68e/2008xtype_hi001.jpg)
History has a way of repeating itself, especially in the auto industry. When Jaguar was owned by Ford, the British brand attempted to field a competitor for the BMW 3 Series, called the X-Type. Based on the bones of a Ford Mondeo, it aped the styling of Jaguar's flagship model, the XJ, while borrowing liberally from the Ford parts bin. That was 2001.
Now, in 2013, Jaguar is planning a new 3 Series challenger based on the platform previewed by the C-X17 Concept, while Ford is attempting to take the latest Mondeo upmarket. The moves have both brands recognizing where, why, and how the X-Type failed. "It didn't look mature or powerful or anything. It was just a car," Jaguar's current head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, told PistonHeads. Basing the X-Type on a front-drive car while giving it styling that was meant for a rear-driver lead to proportions that "were plainly wrong," Thomson told PH. Ford's European head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, added that the X-Type was "a fake Jaguar, because every piece I touch is Ford."
For what it's worth, the X-Type's successor in the segment will sport rear-drive, with plenty of input from Ian Callum. Thomson described the new model, which would challenge the 3 Series as having, "Big wheels right to the ends of the car, low bonnet, short overhangs, very low cabins." Sounds good to us.Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Sep 2013 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
More...
![](http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1259x844+9+0/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/5997bef5e448237cf0ec13f9835cd68e/2008xtype_hi001.jpg)
History has a way of repeating itself, especially in the auto industry. When Jaguar was owned by Ford, the British brand attempted to field a competitor for the BMW 3 Series, called the X-Type. Based on the bones of a Ford Mondeo, it aped the styling of Jaguar's flagship model, the XJ, while borrowing liberally from the Ford parts bin. That was 2001.
Now, in 2013, Jaguar is planning a new 3 Series challenger based on the platform previewed by the C-X17 Concept, while Ford is attempting to take the latest Mondeo upmarket. The moves have both brands recognizing where, why, and how the X-Type failed. "It didn't look mature or powerful or anything. It was just a car," Jaguar's current head of advanced design, Julian Thomson, told PistonHeads. Basing the X-Type on a front-drive car while giving it styling that was meant for a rear-driver lead to proportions that "were plainly wrong," Thomson told PH. Ford's European head of quality, Gunnar Herrmann, added that the X-Type was "a fake Jaguar, because every piece I touch is Ford."
For what it's worth, the X-Type's successor in the segment will sport rear-drive, with plenty of input from Ian Callum. Thomson described the new model, which would challenge the 3 Series as having, "Big wheels right to the ends of the car, low bonnet, short overhangs, very low cabins." Sounds good to us.Jaguar design boss admits X-Type was a mistake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Sep 2013 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
More...
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow, Scotland UK
Posts: 47,302
Received 9,010 Likes
on
4,113 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
X_Type_South_Africa
X-Type ( X400 )
6
12-09-2015 05:37 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)