JAGUAR TRANSFORMED

Jaguar is in the midst of the biggest powertrain upgrades in its history. We talk to Rob Filipovic, General Manager, Product Planning, Jaguar North America about what's new for 2013.

How big of a change is the 2013 model year line up for Jaguar?

It is an absolute game‑changer for us. We have brand new powertrains for the Jaguar XF and XJ ‑ a new 3.0‑liter supercharged V6 for the XJ and XF, a new 2.0‑liter turbocharged four‑cylinder for the XF, new 8‑speed automatics across the board, plus the availability of all‑wheel drive. The changes are huge and currently with our V8 rear‑drive models, we compete in just seven percent of the U.S. luxury market and by early next year, we will have offerings to compete in 70 percent of the U.S. luxury market.

How big a draw will all‑wheel drive be for XF and XJ?

It will be huge; especially since in the northern United States and Canada, all‑wheel drive sales can represent greater than 85 percent of the segments in which we compete. Customers love our cars, but can't justify buying our products because of the absence of all‑wheel drive. With all‑wheel drive we have the potential to unlock an enormous market that wasn’t previously there for us. We’re confident that many southern state buyers will also opt for all‑wheel drive ‑ either to give peace of mind in inclement weather or perhaps because they’re ‘snowbirds’ who spend some of their time up north.

A 4‑cylinder Jaguar for the U.S.market. Did that take some rationalizing?

Technology has come so far that you no longer need displacement to deliver great performance. The new 2.0‑liter I‑4 in the 2013 XF delivers 240 horsepower and an impressive 251 lb‑ft of torque from as low as 2,000 rpm; plus an EPA‑estimated highway fuel average of 29 mpg*. When you pair the 2.0‑liter with our new 8‑speed ZF automatic, you get truly athletic performance. 

How will pricing be affected?

With the new XF 2.0 we’ll have a starting MSRP of just under $48,000**. This starting price will dramatically expand our potential reach by appealing to new customers who would not previously consider a Jaguar. With the new XJ 3.0 V6, we’ll start at $73,200** for a standard wheelbase model. With both of these models, customers will see substantial improvements in fuel efficiency.

At the other end of the scale you’re introducing a new $155,000* XJ Ultimate. How significant is that?

The Jaguar XJL Ultimate is another significant introduction for the brand. Not in terms of volume ‑ we’re only bringing in 30 vehicles and most are, in fact, already sold ‑ but it takes Jaguar to a new level of luxury and craftsmanship. This is the most premium Jaguar ever launched in the U.S. ‑ the car actually goes through an extra six‑week process for the exterior paint and the finishing of the rear seat area, which is complete with two iPads^® and one keyboard for rear seat passengers that are housed and charged in dedicated leather‑trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats, a rear seat business table that elevates at the touch of a button, a rear center illuminated chiller box and bespoke beverage flutes available in a dedicated storage area beneath the powered table and a 15‑channel and 20‑speaker Meridian™ sound system. What the XJ Ultimate does is show where we can take Jaguar luxury in the future.

What is the timetable for all these introductions?

These cars will be in showrooms this fall. We start with the new powertrains for the XJ later this month, followed soon after with the new powertrains for the XF. The first XJL Ultimate vehicles will arrive in November, followed by the all‑wheel drive XJ models in December and the XF all wheel drives in January. Then, it all culminates with the launch of the all‑new Jaguar F‑TYPE next spring.

So what does all this mean for Jaguar in the U.S?

We’re essentially hitting the ‘reset’ button. For a long time, the brand was almost dormant in the United States. With such a limited product portfolio, our appeal was pretty limited. Again, luxury car buyers loved our cars, but there were so many other possible roadblocks that turned them away. The ‘reset’ actually began last winter with the launch of our ALIVE campaign. Then, we introduced the Jaguar ALIVE Driving Experience, where we’re aiming to put around 20,000 perspective customers behind the wheel of a new Jaguar over the course of 12 months. Finally, it all comes together with the arrival of all new products. These are truly exciting times at Jaguar.

* Fuel Economy numbers are manufacturer EPA estimates, your actual mileage may vary 

**Price shown is MSRP. Includes destination. Excludes, tax, title, license, retailer fees and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicles availability may vary. See your local authorized Jaguar retailer for details