The £38,000 Jag for Dads (and school-run mums): Car firm announces 1,300 new jobs as it builds its first 4x4

Home »The £38,000 Jag for Dads (and school-run mums): Car firm announces 1,300 new jobs as it builds its first 4x4

The £38,000 Jag for Dads (and school-run mums): Car firm announces 1,300 new jobs as it builds its first 4x4

Posted by sciencetech-blog on Sunday, January 11, 2015 Label:

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It's good news for dads who feared their days of roaring along in a sports car were behind them.

Jaguar is building its first 4x4 – and there's plenty of room for the kids.

The British firm today announced 1,300 new jobs to help it create the five-door, five-seater sports utility vehicle, which will cost around £38,000.

The Jag for dads: The forthcoming Jaguar F-PACE four-wheel-drive family car

'She-Type' Jaguar: More practical than the sleek saloons and super-charged sports cars the firm is known for, it is also designed to appeal to busy mums on the school run

Firmly aimed at 'Jag dads' with children to ferry around, the all-wheel drive car will come with extra grip technology, meaning it's safe and reliable in all weathers.

More practical than the sleek saloons and super-charged sports cars the firm is known for, it is also designed to appeal to busy mums on the school run – for whom it has been dubbed the 'She-Type' Jaguar.

To keep the youngsters entertained during longer journeys, the car will also feature on-board wi-fi and a Meridian digital audio system.

It will officially be called the F-PACE when it goes on sale in 2016, as a British rival to Germany's Porsche Macan and BMW X4 crossover. Jaguar's bosses made the announcement in Detroit last night ahead of the North American International Auto Show, which begins today.

Design director Ian Callum said: 'The F-PACE is our family sports car. It will encapsulate everything that Jaguar stands for – beautiful design, precise handling, a supple ride, luxurious interior finishes and cutting-edge technology.'

Speaking in Detroit, Jaguar Land Rover global sales director Andy Goss said: 'In 2015 we will celebrate Jaguar's 80th year. We have started it by announcing our first performance crossover which we consider to be the ultimate practical sports car. It builds on the marque's founding ideals of Grace, Pace and Space. It will be one of the most innovative Jaguars we've ever developed.'

'The F-PACE is our family sports car': Jaguar's bosses made the announcement in Detroit last night ahead of the North American International Auto Show, which begins today

British jobs: The F-PACE will be powered by a new generation of fuel-efficient two-litre petrol and diesel engines, to be built at the firm's new £355million plant in Wolverhampton

WILL THE NEW JAGUAR F-PACE 4x4 EVEN FIT IN MY GARAGE?

On sale: From 2016 Built: Solihull, near Birmingham Price: £38,000 to £40,000

Length: 15ft 6in Width: 6ft 5in Height: 5ft 5in

Top speed: 186mph

CO2 emissions: Under 100g/lm

Fuel efficiency: 70 mpg

Doors: Four plus rear hatch

Style: Jaguar's first all-wheel-drive crossover with extra all-weather grip technology

Seats: Four sporty lightweight sculpted bucket seats (plus two additional 'picnic' seats in boot floor which can swivel out when parked).

Engines: New generation of frugal 'green' 2.0 litre 4 cylinder petrol and diesel engines built from 2015 at new £355million engine plant Wolverhampton, plus powerful 3.0 litre V6 from new Jaguar F-Type sports car.

Target audience: Sporty school-run mums and 'Jag Dads'.

Rivals: Germany's Porsche Macan and BMW X4

Features: Sporty leather and milled aluminium seats bucket seats :: Meridian digital audio system :: Fighter-jet style head-up display projects dashboard details onto windscreen :: Panoramic sculpted roof :: On board wi-fi network and console allows car to stay 'connected' via social networking:: Sensors monitor cornering and use brakes to 'redistribute' power from engine to the wheels to maximise grip.

Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said: 'Today's announcements once again demonstrate our commitment to the UK and the advancement of a high-tech, high skilled, manufacturing-led economy.'

'We want to offer customers greater choice, with even more exciting vehicles, crafted with that special British flair. '

The F-PACE will be powered by a new generation of fuel-efficient two-litre petrol and diesel engines, to be built at the firm's new £355million plant in Wolverhampton.

But drivers who want even more power can opt instead for the three-litre V6 engine used in the two-seater Jaguar F-Type.

Global sales director Andy Goss said Jaguar's aim with the F-PACE was to create the 'ultimate practical sports car'. It will be built at the firm's Solihull factory near Birmingham.

Recruitment started in the UK today for the 1,300 new employees to help build the car at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull factory near Birmingham. It is the latest step in ambitious expansion plans which could see that company's total production double to 750,000 cars a year.

Jaguar Land Rover today announced its fifth successive year of sales growth, with an annual increase of 9 per cent.

Land Rover had its 'best ever year' with sales also up 9 per cent to 381,108 on the back of record sales of Range Rovers, Range Rover Sports and Range Rover Evoques.

Jaguar sales were up 6 per cent for the year to 81,570 vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover is one of the UK's largest exporters and generates around 85per cent of its revenue from exports.

Globally, exports to China were up 28 per cent to 122,010 in 2014, those to Europe up 3 per cent to 86,310, and up 2 per cent to 74,981 in North America. Sales in the UK were up 7 per cent last year to 82,872.

Other strong performers included Australia up 19 per cent to 11,273 vehicles, and Korea up 33 per cent to 6,677.

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