Jaguar C-XF Bags Award

Earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the Jaguar brand unveiled the concept vehicle of the car model which will replace the S-Type in the car manufacturer’s lineup.

The unveiling of the concept vehicle attracted the attention of many car enthusiasts. Its sleek styling gives a hint that the British car manufacturer is taking design cues from classic Jaguars. The concept vehicle will no longer be just a concept car since production of the said new car model has already been scheduled by the company. It is expected that the production version of the concept vehicle will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show which is slated to be held on the 13th of September this year. It is also expected that this new car model will hit showrooms by the spring of 2008.

While the world waits for the release of the production Jaguar XF, the concept vehicle is already busy receiving awards. Recently, the C-XF was awarded the Editor’s Special Award at this year’s Fleet World Awards. The award was given during the awarding ceremony at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London.

David Spencer, Jaguar’s Corporate Sales Manager, has this to say after receiving the award: “I am delighted the C-XF has picked up the Editor’s Special Award from Fleet World. Interest in both the C-XF and the XF has been incredible since the concept won ‘star of the show’ at Detroit Motor Show in January.” As the concept vehicle is the forerunner of the production XF, Spencer hopes that the momentum will be carried on to the sale of the XF. “We are really looking forward to building on this when the XF goes on sale in the UK next year,” Spencer said.

The company is currently loosing money and it needs the XF to generate much needed income. Being part of the Ford Motor Company’s Premiere Automotive Group (PAG), there have been talks that the Jaguar brand may be the next European car brand to be sold by the struggling American car manufacturer. If the XF provides strong sales for Jaguar, it would be improbable that Ford will sell the brand. With Aston Martin out of Ford’s PAG, Jaguar is now free to compete in the ultra luxury car segment. This is what the company is taking advantage by producing a car as the XF.

Meanwhile, Fleet World editor Ken Rogers has this to say about giving the award to the C-XF: “The Jaguar C-XF concept is a truly dramatic four-door saloon. Whilst drawing on design cues from Jaguar’s illustrious heritage, it gives a clear indication of the future directions of this charismatic, British marque. The motor industry does not lack imaginative design studies, but few have made as much of an impression on me in recent times. It is clearly destined to become a future automotive design classic.”

The C-XF carries the future design concepts which Jaguar is looking to integrate into future car models. As far as the interior is concerned, the auto industry can be sure that it will have the same luxurious interior that all Jaguars are known for. In terms of engines, the Jaguar XF is salted to be equipped with a highly-efficient powerplant which can outperform most engines in its class even if they are fitted with aftermarket parts available in any cold air intake catalog.