The 2000s
New century, new challenges: Jaguar enters the royal Formula 1 series. Based on the results of four seasons, the company's race cars do not take prizes, but they allow them to declare themselves as a company with one of the most glorious sports traditions. At the start of the decade, the company opens a new state-of-the-art design studio in Wheatley under the direction of Ian Cullum, which creates beautiful cars that continue the Jaguar tradition: the new XJ and XK models. Their aluminum alloy bodies lay the foundation for the technology that will form the basis for the production of models for the next generation. In 2007, the company introduces the new XF sports sedan, which becomes a sales force in the world markets. In 2008, the American carmaker Ford agrees to sell the Jaguar brand together with the British brand Land Rover to India's largest car manufacturer Tata Motors for $2.3 billion.
In February 2001, the new X-type was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, which became the highlight of the exhibition, and a road test carried out shortly after by representatives of the press confirmed that, despite its size, it was a real Jaguar. Elegant and discreet design, along with the traditional features of the Jaguar models, made the car recognizable, and the interior trim corresponded to the quality standard and level of comfort that made Jaguar's reputation. From a technical point of view, the X-type stood out for its all-wheel drive system, which distributed traction between the front and rear wheels in a 40/60 ratio. It was the first all-wheel drive system used in Jaguar production. Engines for the X-type were lightweight V6 power units with 4 camshafts and a displacement of 2.5 and 3.0 liters and the highest power density in its class. Jaguar engineers have developed engines that meet the high demands placed on the company that created the legendary XK and V12 engines. Aimed at a wider and younger audience, the X-type was initially powered by a 2.5-liter V6 with 194 horsepower and a 3.0-liter unit with 227 horsepower, and in 2002 a modification with front-wheel drive and an engine capacity of 2.1 liters with 156 hp The sale of the car began shortly after the official opening of the Halewood plant, and the car itself became a source of pride for the products manufactured by the company. The model was the smallest in the Jaguar lineup and was produced in sedan and wagon body styles, with the X-Type being the company's only mass-produced station wagon.
The Paris Motor Show in September 2003 was marked by the presentation of a completely new and technically advanced sedan, which replaced the existing XJ8. Developed as part of a project called the X350, the new XJ was an important step forward not only for Jaguar, but for the entire automotive industry. Most of the body components of new cars are made of aluminium. The extensive use of aluminum in the production of the new XJ made it 200 kg lighter than the previous model, despite the fact that the new model is longer, taller and wider than its predecessor. The cabin has become more spacious and more comfortable for all passengers. Moreover, being 40% lighter than the previous XJ, the frame of the new car has become stronger by 10-15%, which increases the reliability and durability of the body. The new car was equipped with a 4.2-liter V8 engine, working both with supercharging and in atmospheric mode. Moreover, there were modifications equipped with a 3.5-liter V8 engine and a 3.0-liter V6. Automatically adjustable suspension is another innovation that is standard on all models in combination with the CATS system. The design of the new car is fully consistent with the style of Jaguar. In addition to the standard XJ with a short wheelbase, a special modification was also produced - an elongated version of the XJ with a supercharged V8, which received the designation Jaguar Super V8 Vanden Plas. In 2005, the name was changed to Daimler Super Eight (exclusively for the US market). A limited edition version of the Super V8 Portfolio was available. The top models had very rich equipment, in particular, monitors in the headrests and active cruise control with the Forward Alert function, which warns of approaching an obstacle. "Aluminum XJ" is the seventh generation of the XJ series. From the release of the first model in 1968 to the start of sales in the spring of 2003, about 800,000 Jaguar XJs were produced.
In January 2005, at the Detroit Auto Show, Jaguar unveiled a new concept car called the Advanced Lightweight Coupe, developed by Jaguar Design Studios under the direction of Jan Kalam. The Jaguar XK, internal code X150, was introduced on November 2, 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show with a 4.2-liter V8 engine, as in the first generation cars. In January 2006, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the JaguarXK was introduced with a convertible body. The press reviews were positive: the car handled great, accelerated well, the brakes provided enough information, and the tuned exhaust system sounded just great. A redesigned interior and a completely redesigned front fascia provided excellent visibility for the driver and additional space in the front seats. Since the introduction of live test vehicles to dealers in mid-March 2006, sales of the Jaguar XK worldwide have shown steady growth. The car was offered with a coupe body and a convertible with a folding soft top controlled by an electric drive. The chassis of the car as a whole rotated the XK8 design. A V8 engine with a volume of 4.2 liters and a power of 298 hp was installed under the hood of the car. paired with a six-speed "automatic" ZF. In some markets, a 3.5-liter V8 engine developing 258 hp was offered. s., and the Jaguar XKR version was equipped with a 4.2-liter V8 compressor engine, which increased the output to 416 hp. With. In 2011, a new version of the Jaguar XKR-S was introduced with an improved 550 hp engine. (405 kW) and a torque of 680 N / m., and later the XKR-S GT.
In September 2007, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a rear-wheel drive five-seat E-class sports sedan, the Jaguar XF, was introduced. During its creation, the car received the internal factory index X250. The car was created in the image of the C-XF concept and completely changed the idea of the model, having lost all stylistic links with the Jaguar S-type model. The design of the Jaguar XF bears no resemblance to the retro style of its predecessor. A low roof, a long hood, wide wheel arches - now the Jaguar has a sporty character. The XF is a four-door sedan that combines sophisticated style, performance from a sports coupe, and the refinement of a luxurious executive car interior that allows the driver and four passengers to enjoy an exciting ride at speeds up to 250 km/h. The interior design gives a feeling of spaciousness, there is less wood, leather and ostentatious luxury inside the car. The XF is positioned as a sports car, so powerful engines have been installed on it to match its character. In April 2011 at the New York International Auto Show, the company showed the updated XF model. The facelift included changes to the front and rear of the car, which were based on the styling of the Jaguar C-XF concept car.