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Jag’s grocery getter:
Automaker preparing its first-ever factory-built station wagon
By JULIAN RENDELL/AutoWeek 12-12-02
Ford-owned Jaguar is readying an X-Type wagon that will borrow heavily from its sedan sibling.
Jaguar will launch its first-ever factory-built station wagon by late 2003 as a 2004 model. Based on the X-Type sedan, which shares its platform with the Ford Mondeo sold in Europe, the wagon gets the same all-wheel drive and V6 choices as the sedan.
Designed by Ian Callum’s Coventry-based team, engineering of the wagon body has been handed over to Pininfarina of Italy to take pressure off Jag’s hard-pressed engineers. Rear doors are carried over from the sedan. The rear hatch features raked styling and the same rear overhang as the sedan to preserve a sporty rather than load-lugger look.
Ford will leave the big-wagon role to Premier Automotive Group partner Volvo with its V70, so the X-Type wagon’s interior load volume won’t be huge. Look for cargo space akin to competitors such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class wagons.
The wagon is fitted with a separately hinged window on the hatch, rear split-fold seats and a safety net to keep luggage and passengers separate. Sources report considerable attention has been paid to details inside the cargo bay.
The prototype, disguised to suggest a BMW rather than a Jaguar, conceals taillights and a rear bumper that are reportedly “more contemporary” than the sedan’s, setting the tone for an X-Type facelift in 2005.
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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid.
My next Ford.....
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