Friday, September 9, 2016

TOP SECRET - IMPORTANT MEMO TO JLR PRODUCT PLANNING


MEMO TO:  Jaguar Product Planning
ATTENTION: Adrian Hallmark – Brand Director
COPY:  Ian Callum – Design Director
 SUBJECT: The new sports car project – the XD

Hi guys,

I think Jaguar would do really well with a simpler, lighter concept, much like the XK 120/C-type/D-type.

So, taking the XE modular lightweight aluminium architecture and ‘massaging’ the dimensions, maybe using lightweight components like carbonfibre seats, manual-lift soft top with simple, aluminium folding struts, you could package the car with the 25t turbocharged petrol engine (177 kW), and the ZF 8-speed, and this could be a real winner. Especially if you priced it at AUD$98,500!

Keep the adornments, flim-flam and optional equipment to a minimum. Maybe not quite barebones, but certainly not ‘loaded’ with stuff and the pricing could be super-competitive. I think Mike Cross and his dynamics department could produce a fantastic-handling sports car.

Here’s the dimensions and weight targets:

Wheelbase   -           2431mm (95.7”) *Dimension corrected
Length:          -           4135mm (163”)* Dimension corrected
Width:             -           1177mm (71.5”)
Height:           -           841mm (51”)
Front track:    -           1006mm (61.4”)
Rear Track:   -           1337mm (81.6”)
Kerb weight: -           1495kg (3295lbs)

The car could be called the XD, and the resonance with the Le Mans-winning D-type sports car would add great momentum to the marketing.

What do you think?



BTW, this is not an original idea. Mercedes-Benz has a car exactly the same size (SLC 300), and despite all their pricey, complicated German tech, it’s still a lively car to drive – and I think it’s just the right size to be called a genuine ‘sports car’.


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