X-TYPE MILESTONE

 By Kate McKnight

More members are adding X-and S-TYPES, to their Jaguar collections. Some are enjoying the pleasure of owning a Jaguar for the very first time.   Certainly from the feedback I’ve had members are delighted with their purchase, bit it their first Jag, one of many, or updating their Jag.  Notably, our very own Register Secretary Peter Lehrke has just purchased a new X-TYPE.  

Many trying Jaguar on for the first time have not been disappointed.  This has been Jaguar’s aim, to attract a new generation to the marque and further develop future loyalty.

 Proof is in the pudding as they say.  X- TYPES and S-TYPES are seemingly in demand.  Notably the X-TYPE all-wheel compact sports saloon that we are fast becoming familiar with in this club has had a production milestone with the 250,000^th Jaguar X-TYPE rolling out of the Halewood Plant on January 25^th.  The 250,000^th X-TYPE milestone car was a 2.0-litre diesel estate, in Ultra Violet.

 The X-TYPE was first launched worldwide in 2001 at the Geneva International Motor show. It was unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show for its Australian debut.  I was fortunate enough to attend its Sydney launch at the Sydney Stock Exchange on the 16^th August 2001. This was an exciting event. Amongst those gathered, quite a good sprinkling of Australian personalities and celebrities showed their interest in the latest Jag which was pitched against Mercedes Benz C Class, Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series.   

Since its launch the X-TYPE has continued to develop and evolve with the aim to offer individuality, performance and contemporary styling.  Indeed, Jaguar seems to have even more innovations to come for the X-TYPE in 2005. 

X-S-PRESS

By Kate McKnight

MODERNS FOR HIRE

What do you do when you’re traveling interstate without your own Jaguar?  You hire an X-TYPE of course!   

For the last two National Rallies ACT and WA, David and I have left the Jag at home due to limited time on hand, and the need for a bit of rest and relaxation. Although David sometimes gets a bit twitchy at not competing in Concours it gives him a chance to take a breather and cast an eye over the contenders who’ll be participating in rallies and display days yet to come!  

In the meantime, hiring a Jaguar is the next best thing when your own Jaguar baby is tucked up at home in the garage.  

We booked our X-TYPE for the WA rally back in October 2004.  Another X-TYPE was also hired by club members from The Jaguar Car Club of Canberra. We learned that the rental company had possession of only two X-TYPES. These two cars also happened to be the only two X-TYPES available in the entire state of WA!  

The X-TYPE we hired was a 2.5, with satellite nav and all the bells and whistles.  It was a great drive, although a bit noisier than mine, with some reverberation from the tires.   However we both enjoyed the comfortable drive and found it a great little car for touring.  

Over the six days of travel The X-TYPE comfortably took us everywhere in a range of weather conditions.  I am now inspired to get my own little X-TYPE ready for touring at next year’s rally in NSW, unless that is the X300 gets first dibs!  

On WA’s Post Rally Tour, there was one S-TYPE, which was not a hire car. It was owned by Jan and Lyndon Cooper from the JDCA.   The other X-TYPE was hired by Gail and Peter Slater, and daughter Laura from JDCC.