In this week's edition of Autocar confidential, we hear why Hyundai and Kia are bringing interior production entirely in-house, what's wrong with Jaguar XE sales and more.
New Jag’s a sales drag
Frustration over the comparatively low sales of the Jaguar XE continues to bubble among senior officials. Outgoing design chief Ian Callum called the situation “a source of great puzzlement”. Marketing director Anthony Bradbury believes the issue lies in persuading people to drive the car. He said: “We are also new to the sector and that means we are a choice that people have to explain.”
Premium brand plugs in
DS boss Yves Bonnefont says that, apart from the DS 7 Crossback, each new model – arriving once a year over the next six years – will be available with a 300bhp plug-in hybrid or pure-electric powertrain from launch. Bonnefont believes “a third of sales will be electrified by the early 2020s for DS” and thinks electrification fits very well with DS’s premium ambitions “because of its torque and refinement”.
Seat gets down with the kids
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Why would you want? just take the German made blinkers off
New XE has better handling, better ride, more kit, quieter, as well built, cheaper to buy and run (as a company car). But then when do professional car testers view matter.
Jag Excuses
I was also puzzled by the "new to the sector" quote. I think the problem is that Jag' aren't new to this sector at all, but have on both occasions fielded a sub-standard car. People have long memories, and whilst the XE is a better car comparitively than the X-Type it's been tarnished with the earlier car's brush. And the XE isn't good enough to make up for it, and doesn't come across as a genuine competitor to the rest of the cars in its class in anything other than driving pleasure. Sadly, if you sit in one after a Merc/BMW/Audi you're unlikely to want to bother to take it for a test drive. Jaguar are deluding themselves.
Why would you want an XE? you
Why would you want an XE? you get more space, more power, better reliability and lower tax bills in a BMW. Possibly the XE has some perceived dynamic edge, but really who cares?