Not so long ago, we told you that, according to an Edmunds report, Jaguar was going to design two distinct body styles for the next generation of their XJ saloon. We explained that the move was motivated by the company’s desire to make it in China, a country where the current model’s bold lines and different look are not particularly appreciated – a more classic-looking design would have been preferred, and that, along with the fact that China is growing to be Jag’s primary market probably sparked the rumors.
Now, according to Autocar, which spoke to the automaker’s design director, Ian Callum, they are actually not going to make two different body styles, because “the cost would be enormous and the message inconsistent. You have to believe in what you produce and to do two body styles would undermine that.”
Callum did admit that they were still in the planning phase for the new XJ, but aside from two different wheelbases, there will be one single model, for the global market.
However, I think that with them putting so much emphasis on China and its more conservative automotive preferences, the new XJ may be nowhere near as flamboyant as the current model, since they will have to appease everybody (Europe, US, China), and compromises are never fully successful.
By Andrei Nedelea
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