Jaguar’s extended plan to become an important player in the premium segment is taking a new form. Recently, the newly launched XJ and XF models have been competing directly with the BMW 5 and 7 Series, and these new vehicles have been highly praised by many automotive journalists.
Just recently, Jaguar announced their plans to build a 1 and 3 Series competitors that will come to market within the next 5 years.
But the Tata-owned British brand has even bigger plans. A recent report by InsideLine states that Jaguar is developing an SUV that should hit production in about four years. The Jaguar SUV will compete in the premium market along with the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes-Benz ML.
Same magazine reports that the all-new model is at the full-size clay-model stage, although design freeze is still some way off.
The Jaguar SUV is rumored to feature a lightweight aluminum structure, as the XJ does as well, and share some hardware with high-end Range Rovers. Expectations are that the Jaguar SUV will be oriented toward highway rather than off-road use, aligning with the dynamic design seen on all their new cars.
In 2013, BMW will unveil their third-generation X5 which is also rumored to sport a more dynamic character and sportier design lines.
