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.August 11, 2004
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Photo: Jaguar/Ford
Those craving sporty performance and athletic style will prefer the X-TYPE Sport sedan, which features a more aggressive body style to match its performance- oriented features: sport-tuned suspension, deep front spoiler and optional sleek carbon fiber trim on fascia and gear surround, paired with contemporary Alcantara(TM) seating surfaces. The X-TYPE VDP Edition will appeal to those seeking enhanced luxury and technology with a premium sound system, dual stage heated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, rich burl walnut interior trim and more. At-A-Glance Highlights:
LUXURY MEETS VERSATILITY - X-TYPE 3.0 SPORTWAGON Jaguar's first ever production wagon - the X-TYPE 3.0 Sportwagon targets a new generation of sports wagon buyers who base their purchase decisions primarily on style, versatility and driving dynamics. The X-TYPE 3.0 Sportwagon gives design-conscious consumers the perfect blend of functionality, style and performance to accommodate their active lifestyles without compromising their desire for sophistication. From family ski trips in Aspen to wine buying trips in Napa Valley, owners will have all the cargo area versatility and space to meet their needs. The cargo area of the Sportwagon is the key point of differentiation from the rest of the X-TYPE range. To keep luggage securely in place and hidden from view, there's a retractable cover, which rolls out over the load area. Items can also be secured by attaching the standard cargo net to the roof-lining to prevent smaller items like grocery bags from spilling their contents. Larger items can be secured by tie-down straps that hook onto the four strong D-rings incorporated in the luggage area floor. For added security, a large, molded tray below the rear floor contains two deep storage sections and is accessed by lifting the trunk floor on its hinges. This hidden compartment also incorporates a 12-volt power output socket, making it perfect for charging a laptop computer or digital camera while being discreetly concealed. On the outside, fixed silver roof rails are fitted as standard, and a range of additional carrying systems will be available, from ski clamps to roof boxes, so buyers can select a system that works best for their individual needs. LEAPING AHEAD IN QUALITY To ensure that it stays at the very top of its class, more than 1,000 component changes have been made to Jaguar's best-selling X-TYPE sedan since its introduction in August 2001. This series of continuous improvements has paid off. According to J.D. Power & Associates latest 2004 Initial Quality Study, the X-TYPE has improved in initial quality -- examined in the first 90 days of ownership -- by an impressive 32 percent since 2001. In the last year alone, the X-TYPE initial quality improved 13 percent over the previous year's model. X-TYPE EXTERIOR DESIGN -- CREATING A TRUE JAGUAR Introduced in August 2001, the X-TYPE was the first compact-sized Jaguar since the classic Mark II of the early 1960s. Seven inches shorter than the S-TYPE, the car demanded a whole new set of design parameters from the late Geoff Lawson, and present Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum. According to Callum, it was a deliberate move to pick-up styling cues from the previous XJ sedan, particularly what he calls the XJ 'face' -- quad headlamps, grille design and shape of the hood. AJ-V6 POWER FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE The X-TYPE's 24-valve, four-cam 2.5-liter and 3.0-liter AJ-V6 engines are derived from the S-TYPE's proven AJ-V6 powertrain, and use a lightweight alloy cylinder block, alloy cylinder heads and a steel crankshaft. With advanced features, such as continuously variable cam phasing and advanced, 32-bit engine management system, both engines deliver spirited and athletic performance coupled with competitive fuel economy and low emissions. The 192bhp (SAE) 2.5-liter and 227bhp (SAE) 3.0-liter engines are highly efficient, delivering superior power outputs. At 227bhp, the X-TYPE 3.0 offers more power than the BMW 330i (225bhp), the Mercedes C320 (215bhp) and Audi's A4 3.0 (220bhp). On both engines, there is a strong mid-range torque with more than 90 percent of peak torque available between 2,500 and 6,000 rpm, and more than 80 percent available from below 1,500 rpm through the maximum engine speed of 6,800 rpm. The continuously variable valve timing and advanced engine management system help both X-TYPE models achieve improved fuel economy -- the 2.5 manual averages 28 mpg on the highway -- and both models are certified to the stringent California Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standard. The five-speed manual transmission that's standard on the 2.5 and available on the 3.0 as a no cost option with the new 3.0 Sport, is geared to enhance the X-TYPE's performance feel, while the five-speed automatic -- controlled by Jaguar's unique J-gate shift lever -- offers the versatility of two driver-selectable shift modes, 'normal' and 'sport,' with the sport mode offering higher rpm shift points. Against the stopwatch, the X-TYPE is an athletic performer. In benchmark 0-60 mph acceleration, the X-TYPE 3.0 manual covers the distance in just 6.6 seconds (7.1 sec for the five-speed automatic). The X-TYPE 2.5 manual can sprint to 60 mph from rest in 7.9 seconds (8.5 sec for the automatic). TRACTION-4(TM) ALL-WHEEL DRIVE DELIVERS ALL WEATHER DRIVABILITY With the X-TYPE, part of the car's great-driving character comes from its advanced all-wheel drive system -- Jaguar Traction-4(TM) -- the first all- wheel drive system in Jaguar's history and an innovation that sets the X-TYPE apart from the rest of the Jaguar model line. "Traction-4 is all about the way the car performs on the road and its inherent stability. The simple explanation is that it makes the X-TYPE feel bolted to the road surface. It doesn't matter whether road conditions are wet, dry or snowy, the car feels stable," commented Phil Hodgkinson, director of Jaguar Product Development, Jaguar Cars. It works like this: Traction-4(TM) automatically compensates for any difference in speed between the front and rear wheels. If the rear wheels start to slip -- as they would under hard acceleration on a patch of ice -- the engine's power is automatically, and seamlessly, directed to the front wheels. Vice-versa if the front wheels go slippery. Under normal conditions, 40 percent of the engine's power goes to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear. (Aug. 6, 2004)
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