Jaguar X-Type. June 08
With significant revisions including nearly 500 new components, the new generation X-Type retains all the original car's strengths, and adds some new ones of its own.
For the first time in Australia, the new X-Type now offers diesel power - pairing a 2.2 litre diesel with a six-speed automatic, and the one-touch control of Jaguar Sequential Shift - broadening the new model's appeal to buyers.
The new X-Type automatic diesel combines high levels of refinement with optimised performance and economy, and promises more choice and even greater luxury, to appeal especially to a younger, more family orientated audience.
The diesel automatic alternative
The 2.2 litre diesel is paired with a new six-speed automatic gearbox, which has the added attraction of 'one-touch control' Jaguar Sequential Shift, for manual gear changes.
The six gear ratios are chosen to deliver refined cruising while maintaining sporty performance - the balance that Jaguar research shows an X-Type owner wants. The diesel automatic can achieve maximum torque in all six gears, utilising optimum gear change points to ensure best use of the available torque. In the new X-Type, the 2.2D automatic achieves 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds, a maximum speed of 208km/h, a combined economy of 6.9l/100km), and a CO2 rating of 184g/km.
Thanks to the new transmission's advanced electronic control, it offers rapid responses to shift commands, and a choice of operating modes. Moving from fully automatic to 'manual' mode automatically selects a 'Sports' setting: this delivers more involving, sporty shift dynamics - with the added possibility of simple, one touch up - or down shifts using the Jaguar Sequential Shift programme.
Building on its strengths
The new X-TYPE announces its arrival with a fresh new look that reflects Jaguar's new design language.
The exterior surfaces are contemporary, with a new '3D' bright mesh grille, bold frame and body coloured outer surround that echo the design themes of both the XJ and XF. And the new X-Type is proud of its Jaguar identity, with a new Jaguar 'growler' emblem prominently mounted within the mesh grille.
New front bumper covers define the new X-Type's face, with taut, clean lines and neatly integrated side marker reflectors. A bright 'splitter' in the lower air intakes also adds visual width to the new X-Type while the front bumper neatly incorporates colour keyed sensors for the parking aid system.
In profile, new sill shapes connect the re-styled front and rear bumpers and visually lower the new X-Type's centre of gravity, giving it a more purposeful, sporting stance.
The lower, sportier profile is underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. The Sport pack also offers a subtle body coloured rear boot lid spoiler. The new door mirrors offer maximum functionality, including power foldback. They also include integrated side repeaters - again, a feature common to the new XJ and new XF.
Completing the external visual changes, the new X-Type introduces two new five-spoke alloy wheel styles - the 17-inch Barbados and 18-inch Abaco.
The inside story
The interior freshening of the new X-Type complements the exterior changes, focusing on contemporary Jaguar design, but with familiar levels of comfort, luxury and craftsmanship.
There are three new seat styles, each with its own matching door trim. The first option offers ten-way driver and passenger seat adjustment with driver's seat memory function and all leather seat facings.
Those wanting a sportier interior trim can choose the Sport models. The Sports Pack seats have ten-way adjustment with driver's seat memory function, and the luxurious diamond stitching pattern repeated in the matched door trims. The range-topping High Luxury Pack also offers ten-way adjustment, with memory, plus a subtly different all leather style, combining horizontal stitching and contrasting piping, with traditional walnut inserts.
The premium feel of the new X-Type is enhanced by new details. Those include a new Tungsten paint finish for the air vents, ashtray, centre stack bezels, steering wheel switch bezels and master light switch. There is chrome edging for steering wheel, a new steering wheel growler badge, and new head lining and pillar trim covering materials.
The instrument cluster has a sportier look with new silver metallic overlays, new pointer hubs and new bezel shapes, plus a combination of green dial illumination and white pointer illumination, just as in the XK.