Jaguar News: Jaguar’s Design Chief Wants A Mini Rival

[William Maley]

Ian Callum, Jaguar’s design boss told What Car? this week that he would like to see the brand produce a small car.

“It's a personal view, but there's room for a premium small car. It would be a high-end small car for city use.”

Callum said the vehicle wouldn’t be a cheap Jaguar, just scaled-down.

“The big challenges would be economic and creating a business case for it, along with making a small car feel like a Jaguar and having the right levels of refinement and luxury.”

When asked what shape the car could take, Callum said it “would have to break the mould and be a car that people just want.”

All we ask is this: Please, no Jaguar Cygnet.

Source: What Car?

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[smk4565]

If they make a Jaguar edition of the Tata Nano I might just have to give up on cars.

[Robert Hall]

In the '70s, Jaguar didn't have to resort to this because they were part of BLMC...they had the Austin and Morris brands for small cars (and Vanden Plas rebadges for 'premium' small cars). Does Tata have anything bigger than the Nano in their portfolio?

Edited November 22, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

If they want to do this, they need to bring about a small brand that isn't Jaguar.

[Robert Hall]

If they want to do this, they need to bring about a small brand that isn't Jaguar.

They would probably have to come up with a new brand name...IIRC, all the heritage BLMC brand names are owned by BMW (Austin, Morris, Triumph, Riley,etc) except for MG and Rover which are now Chinese owned.

[Drew Dowdell]

Sterling?

[Robert Hall]

Sterling?

Probably still owned by Rover, which is owned by the Chinese MG parent, IIRC.

Sterling could be good..was only used in NA, doubt if many people remember it (not to be confused w/ the defunct Sterling truck brand). Has a premium sound to the name.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

bet the name could be bought cheap

[ocnblu]

Coming in 2015: the Kitten XJ3.

[Robert Hall]

Coming in 2015: the Kitten XJ3.

Meow...'Lynx' would be a good name for a small cat-named car brand.