adminTinashe Makichi Motoring Correspondent
The doors and part of the rear structure are steel in an attempt to balance the XE’s front-to-rear weight distribution like a sports-car. The All New Jaguar XE 2015 has finally arrived in Zimbabwe and this sexy cat is ready to pounce on German competitors who are the current jungle kings. The vehicle was launched in Zimbabwe on Wednesday by Jaguar’s official dealer Premier Auto at an event which attracted all well to do business executives.
I could notice the excitement from a distance as executives jostled to catch a glimpse of the new cat. It would not be a surprise to see someone driving that car in the next few weeks! The launch was magnificent and the British brand now owned by Indian conglomerate Tata after 18 years of Ford ownership has been able to set its own uniqueness following a fresh capital injection made towards research and development.
Speaking at the launch, Landrover Zimbabwe general manager Mr Manfred Chaniwa said Premier Auto has many exciting products coming to the market.
“We have so many exciting products in the coming year and we will be offering test drives so that those customers get an intimate feeling with the vehicle. We have expanded the brand to improve accessibility.
“You have an opportunity this weekend to drive a Jaguar product and I can safely say the Jaguar is now in town and roaring,” said Mr Chaniwa.
Mr William Letsoalo who is Jaguar customer services manager Sub-Saharan Africa said the Jaguar brand continues to invest in customer services, innovation and design of cars.
“We want to create a retail experience that suit the demand of our customers. This car exceeded our expectations and has been compared to BMW and the Mercedes.
“We have raised the bar in this segment and I think our German competitors can see the great job that we have done,” said Mr Letsoalo.
The XE, an all new Jaguar is full of advanced technology, starting with its aluminium structure to help reduce weight and aid fuel economy.
Power trains include a turbo four, a supercharged V6, and a diesel. It offers an eight-speed automatic and the rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive optional. .
The F-type may have been a rush, indulgent way to spend money, but it became the brand’s modern icon. Now Jaguar on the XE appears focused on consolidating its high earners market.
These new sports sedan ushers in Jaguar’s new aluminium-intensive architecture, which will also spawn a fresh XF four-door and the F-pace crossover, creating a trifecta of new vehicles where luxury sales are expected to boom.
Jaguar has always had a passion for creativity, innovation and dynamic design; qualities we feel are perfectly expressed in XE. With the introduction of this astonishing vehicle we have joined forces with the very best British creative minds to craft a series of collaborative projects.
Jaguar has made every effort to revive its reputation as a maker of sporting sedans with this new model. About 75 percent of the XE’s body is made from aluminium.
The doors and part of the rear structure are steel in an attempt to balance the XE’s front-to-rear weight distribution like a sports-car. The front suspension is borrowed from Jaguar’s F-Type coupe and convertible, and the electric power steering hardware is also a straight swap from its sibling.
While the XE may look like a Honda Accord or a Ford Falcon from the rear, the gaping grille and sleek headlights is Jaguar’s new signature.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter