Jaguar X-Type

The Jaguar X-TYPE is a model of motorcar that first began production in 2001 (as a 2002 model) and remains in production at Jaguar's Halewood facility in England.

The X-TYPE is the smallest of the current Jaguar saloon cars, and was designed to build on the success of the S-Type, although it takes many styling cues from the XJ series. It is built on a modified version of the Ford CD132 platform, evolved from the Ford CDW27 platform, which also underpins the Ford Mondeo. Jaguar states that there are only 20% Ford parts, and the other 80% are genuine Jaguar parts.

This vehicle was designed as a direct competitor to the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It has good handling — the all wheel drive system which is tuned to send 60% of engine power to the rear wheels and 40% to the front for a sportier feel. It has a V6 engine that produces 192hp (143kW), and 178ft·lbf (241N·m) of torque. Still, sales have been poor, blamed on its resemblance to the larger XJ which was traditionally bought by older customers, not the younger ones that Jaguar craved. Initially projected to surpass 100,000 annual sales, the X-TYPE peaked at 50,000 in 2003. The model is scheduled to remain in production through 2009 , an extremely long production cycle for a modern automobile, especially one with poor sales. It is unlikely that the model will be replaced when production ends, as Jaguar has scaled back expansion plans.

Powertrain

The X-TYPE is equipped in the United States with either a 192hp (143kW) 2.5L or a 227hp (169kW) 3.0L Jaguar AJ-V6 engine and all wheel drive standard. In Europe, the X-TYPE is also available with a 2.0L front wheel drive petrol or diesel engine. A 2.2 L diesel engine was introduced in mid-2005.

Body styles

The initial version of the X-TYPE was a saloon. In early 2004, this was joined by an estate version, making it the first ever Jaguar estate car, in addition to the first to use a diesel engine. The estate version was launched to mixed reception. In the United States, the estate is officially known as the Sportwagon.