New cat out of the bag

While "X-philes" believed in aliens living among us and accompanying conspiracy theories to mask the "truth," this thing, on the other hand, is no secret at all. The latest product from English automaker Jaguar is now out of the bag. Called the X-Type, it’s here in the country too, barely a few months after being available in the US and the car’s debut at the Geneva Auto Show in February.

Launched late last week at the local Jaguar showroom in Makati, this all-new four-door sports sedan (or saloon, as the Brits would have it) is the first car sporting the Jaguar leaper cat to enter the fiercely competitive compact sports sedan market, mixing it up with illustrious marques that dominate the field like the Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi A4 and BMW 3-series.

This new car — which is geared toward more sporting enthusiasts — is unlike any other kitty in the Jaguar litter, and is quite a departure from the image people usually associate the name Jaguar with. And it should be, since the X-Type is indeed built and targeted at a completely different market, which is a more polite way of saying "it is for younger people."

Positioned below the S-Type saloon range in both size and price, Jaguar hopes to attract a whole new generation of customers, the company confirmed in a news release.

"Customers for the X-Type typically will be younger than traditional Jaguar buyers with notably different needs," said Jaguar’s managing director Jonathan Browning. "As the smallest and most affordable model in the range, the X-Type challenges existing perceptions about Jaguar. The X-Type exemplifies Jaguar’s new performance spirit, offering a fresh contemporary expression of Jaguar values in a compact, stylish sports saloon."

Apart from its dimensions, the X-Type is also the first Jaguar product to roll off its factory floors equipped with an all-wheel drive system. Combined with the car’s relatively compact size, Jaguar said this all-wheel drive system endows the X-Type with nimble and sporting driving dynamics. Of course, a choice of either a 2.5-liter or 3.0-liter V6 engine fitted with the company’s variable valve timing hardware helps the cause too. Initially, though, only the 2.5-liter variant is available locally.

Since Jaguar is owned by Ford, sharing platforms between the two brands is not exactly a surprise. While the S-Type has identical architecture as the Lincoln LS (Lincoln is a Ford brand as well), the X-Type shares its platform with its more plebian cousin, the Ford Mondeo. But make no mistake, the X-Type is no mere dressed-up Mondeo.

Various tweaking or complete redesigns in the steering system and chassis ensure this. The rear suspension, in particular, received a different multi-link setup that enables it to handle more power. The X-Type is, after all, an all-wheel drive vehicle while the Mondeo is a typical front-driver. Which is a very important aspect Jaguar considered. As all Jaguars before are rear-wheel drive cars, the company deemed it fit to save the X-Type from the notoriety of being the first front-wheel drive Jaguar. Apparently, while the company is willing to break away from certain traditions, it is not willing to break away that far.

Steeped in Jaguar tradition also is the X-Type’s interior, which is as leather-and-wood British luxurious as it gets. Everything inside is tasteful and classy, achieving a look other automakers can only aspire to.

Exterior styling is also still unmistakably Jaguar.

Good looks aside though, the X-Type also boasts of numerous tech wizardries like speed-sensitive power-assist steering, electronically controlled transmission, ABS, electronic brake force distribution and dynamic stability control.

Being the tiniest in the litter, the X-Type is the cheapest Jaguar money can buy. Jaguar Philippines chairman Wellington Soong said the car’s introductory price is P2.75 million, considerably less than the S-Type’s current P4.65 million tag. Because of this, Soong is confident the X-Type will be quite popular. "I am bullish about capturing 30 percent of the market in this class because of the brand’s popularity, its styling, exclusivity and elegance," Soong said.

Clearly targeting a younger market, the X-Type, Jaguar claimed, is fittingly named after generation X. It may well be aimed at rich, young people though — or less affluent older people. Or maybe, just simply at people who know a great car when they see one.