The Jaguar X-Type gets a fresh look for 2008, along with a host of new features inside and outside the vehicle and a new automatic transmission in the acclaimed 2.2 diesel. With significant revisions including nearly 500 new components, the new generation Jaguar X-Type retains all the original car's strengths, and adds some new ones of its own.
The new Jaguar X-Type's exterior styling is significantly refreshed - with changes that reflect some of Jaguar's new saloon car design language - with subtle interior revisions and greater choice of trim and equipment, further emphasising the Jaguar X-Type's premium car credentials.
For the first time in this model range, the new Jaguar X-Type now offers the combination of diesel power with automatic transmission - pairing the 2.2 litre diesel with a six-speed automatic, and the one-touch control of Jaguar Sequential Shift - broadening the new model's appeal to buyers who previously could not have this combination in an Jaguar X-Type.
The new Jaguar X-Type automatic diesel combines high levels of refinement with optimised performance and economy, and promises more choice and even greater luxury, to appeal especially to a younger, more family-orientated audience.
The diesel-automatic alternative
For the first time in the Jaguar X-Type range, buyers can opt for diesel power and an automatic transmission. The 2.2 litre diesel is paired with a new six-speed automatic gearbox, which has the added attraction of 'one-touch control' Jaguar Sequential Shift, for manual gearchanges.
The six gear ratios are chosen to deliver refined cruising while maintaining sporty performance - the balance that Jaguar research shows an Jaguar X-Type owner wants. Where the 2.2 litre diesel with manual transmission can achieve maximum torque from second gear, the new combination can achieve maximum torque in all six gears, utilising optimum gear change points to ensure best use of the available torque. This delivers significant benefits to performance 'feel' and the performance of the diesel automatic is impressively close to that of the diesel with the manual transmission. In the new Jaguar X-Type saloon, the 2.2D manual version has headline figures of 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds (0-100kph in 9.1 seconds), a maximum speed of 134mph (216kph), a combined economy of 47.1mpg (6.0l/100km), and a CO2 rating of 159g/km. The respective figures for the 2.2D automatic are 9.5 seconds (9.9 seconds), 129mph (208kph), 41 mpg (6.9l/100km) and 184g/km. The comparative figures - shown in full in the specification tables - are similar for estate versions.
Thanks to the new transmission's advanced electronic control, it offers rapid responses to shift commands, and a choice of operating modes. Moving from fully automatic to 'manual' mode automatically selects a 'Sports' setting: this delivers more involving, sporty shift dynamics - with the added benefit of simple, one-touch up- or down-shifts using the Jaguar Sequential Shift programme.
As well as the changes needed to install the new transmission, extensive measures were taken to optimise cooling, weight and noise, and vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics. These include at a physical level, a greater volume of and improvements to sound insulation materials, while in the electronic arena the Engine Speed Control (ESC) smoothes downshifts and the torque converter is given a degree of slip that both improves its NVH qualities and gives improved drivability and economy.
Building on its strengths
The new Jaguar X-Type announces its arrival with a fresh new look that reflects Jaguar's new design language.
The exterior surfaces are clean, confident and above all, contemporary, visually confirming the new Jaguar X-Type as a thoroughly modern Jaguar. The frontal styling introduces a new '3D' bright mesh grille, with a bold frame and body coloured outer surround that echo the design themes of both the XJ and XF. And the new Jaguar X-Type is proud of its Jaguar identity, with a new Jaguar 'growler' emblem prominently mounted within the mesh grille.
New front bumper covers define the new Jaguar X-Type's face, with taut, clean lines and neatly integrated side marker reflectors. A bright 'splitter' in the lower air intakes also adds visual width to the new Jaguar X-Type, while the front bumper neatly incorporates colour-keyed sensors for the next-generation park-aid system and re-profiled covers for the headlamp power-wash system where those features are fitted.
The redesigned rear bumper continues the clean, confident theme, with smooth, simple surfaces that shrink the visual mass of the rear of the car. Echoing the bright splitter in the front, a full-width bright chrome signature blade gives the new Jaguar X-Type a strong identity in line with the rest of the Jaguar range. In another neat touch, a new roof-mounted Antenna Pod for saloon and Estate replaces the previous aerial.
The lower, sportier profile is underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings, while replacing the side indicator repeaters with bold new Jaguar 'ingot' badges adds a striking piece of jewellery to the front fenders - very much in line with new Jaguar design. The Sport pack also offers a subtle body-coloured rear boot-lid spoiler.
The new door mirrors offer maximum functionality (including the options of memory settings and power foldback), and are either body-colour or - in some markets - have chrome highlights. They also include integrated side repeaters - again, a feature common to the new XJ and new XF.
The strong new growler grille badge clearly identifies the X-Type as a Jaguar, and there is a new script style for the X-Type badge. High-specification models are appropriately identified by an Executive or Sovereign badge, but aside from this, simplicity is the key with the all-wheel drive, AWD badges and engine identifier badges seen on the previous generation X-Type deleted, for a cleaner look.
Completing the external visual changes, the new Jaguar X-Type introduces two new five-spoke alloy wheel styles - the 17-inch Barbados and 18-inch Abaco - while the exterior colour palette ranges from Porcelain White to the new Ultimate Black, with Pearl Grey, Glacier Blue, Chilli, Winter Gold, Liquid Silver and Emerald Fire among the other choices.
The inside story
The interior freshening of the new Jaguar X-Type complements the exterior changes, focussing on contemporary Jaguar design, but with familiar levels of comfort, luxury and craftsmanship.
The new Jaguar X-Type introduces four new seat styles, each with its own matching door trim.
One has leather borders with sport cloth centre cushions, and bold new horizontal twin-needle stitching - complemented by door trim pads matching the two seat trim colours, Champagne or Warm Charcoal. Those seats also have electrical four-way adjustment, for both driver and front passenger.
Customers wanting a sportier interior trim can choose the Sports Pack. In soft grain leather with twin-needle diamond stitching for the centre cushions, in contrasting colours - Warm Charcoal leather with Stone stitching, Ivory or Spice with Warm Charcoal - the Sports Pack seats have ten-way adjustment with driver's seat memory function, and the luxurious diamond-stitching pattern repeated in the matched door trims.
The range-topping Luxury Pack also offers ten-way adjustment, with memory, plus a subtly different all-leather style, combining horizontal stitching and contrasting piping - Champagne leather with Warm Charcoal piping (or vice versa), and Ivory leather with piping in another new colour, Oyster. The Luxury door trim matches the seats, but adds traditional walnut inserts.
A dark, distinctively-grained Rosewood veneer is a new option with a fresh, contemporary design feel, and depending on model includes the automatic shift surround and ashtray lid.
Piano Black is a modern, stylish and luxurious option that is often seen as an expensive option on some rivals, but which comes as standard as the facia highlights on the opening trim level for the new Jaguar X-Type. These same models also include a Charcoal leather gearknob on manual versions, Piano Black shift knob and surround on petrol automatic versions, and leather with Piano Black inserts for the new diesel automatic combination.