The AutoWeek Editor's Choice 2001 award was honored on 28 February 2001 by Jaguar's Managing Director Jonathan Browning for Most Significant New Product at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Jaguar X-Type compact business sedan was presented for the first time. From that moment on, the dramatic story of the continuer of the traditions of the well-deserved Jaguar brand began.
Designed under the code name X400, the Jaguar X-Type was the first compact (relative to the rest of the Jaguar lineup) 4-door sedan since the 1955 Jaguar Mark 1. The BMW 3 Series was chosen as the main competitor. The new compact Jaguar received the Ford Mondeo platform, but for the purpose of a cardinal difference it was made with an all-wheel drive and equipped with 2.5- and 3.0-liter AJ-V6 petrol engines.
The outer contours of the X-Type are classic Jaguar shapes with flowing lines, with oval hooded headlights, a specific radiator grille, and a rectangular elegant arched roof. Much resembled the image of the legendary XJ-series sedans. All external configurations are designed in terms of dynamism. There should be no elements constituting resistance to air flow. From the point of view of the exterior, some discrepancy between the geometric dimensions of the front and rear parts of the car attracts attention.
The extended engine compartment with full-size driver's doors flanks the shortened rear doors and a sleek trunk. According to the owners, in the Jaguar X-Type, landing in the back seat causes some difficulty. The windshield behaves in a strange way in winter, freezing when ice occurs. Obviously, the increased tilt of the glass played a cruel joke. Warm air from the deflectors does not solve the problem.
Claims for a luxurious interior, with wood-like, leather-wrapped interior, is lost alongside cheap plastics that are similar to those of Ford rental cars. The creak of poorly fitted trim parts in the early years of production spoiled the impression of a fairly comfortable ride on the highway. Moreover, there were no complaints about ride comfort and ease of control. According to the owners in the Jaguar X-Type of that time, on-board electronic systems often failed. From time to time, the contact group of the automatic transmission selector failed. To bring the oxidized contacts to a working state, it was necessary to move the selector in positions before turning on the ignition.
The sales target in the first 2 years after entering the market failed and the company had to undergo a restyling in 2003. The new version of the Jaguar X-Type received front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel engine with 130 hp. These changes have improved the sales situation in the highly competitive car segment. In 2004, the only serial station wagon of the company based on the Jaguar X-Type, called “Estate”, was launched on the market.
The developers paid much attention to security systems. The Jaguar X-Type received 4 stars in the EuroNCAP crash test. At the same time, all 4 X-Type models: S, SE, Sport Premium and Sovereign, have a very good package. According to many experts, Jaguar offered a fairly unique car in its class. The Jaguar X-Type is an affordable luxury vehicle.
After undergoing a few more changes in 2005 and 2008, due to the financial problems of Ford, the Jaguar X-Type “went off the run”. On July 15, 2009, unfortunately, it was announced that the Jaguar X-Type production program would be curtailed. In January of this year, there was a new announcement regarding plans to release the successor to the Jaguar X-Type. But this will be already in 2014.
