Jaguar’s Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQS rival, the all-new and fully electric XJ, was supposed to be unveiled later this year, before going on sale in early 2021.
However, according to the Sunday Times, that is no longer the case, with the British carmaker now pushing back the all-new XJ’s launch to October in order to focus on more profitable models instead.
The new XJ will be built at JRL’s Castle Bromwich facility, which also builds the XE and XF. The plant is due to reopen next month following an extended shutdown due to the pandemic. However, with social distancing measures in place, the factory will go on to operate at a reduced output.
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In order to lessen the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jaguar is reportedly cutting back heavily on non-essential spending for the immediate future. Still, the company remains committed to eventually launching this new flagship version, reports Autocar.
Jaguar said the following in a statement issued to the British publication: “The Jaguar XJ has been our flagship model for 50 years. Over eight generations of production, it has been designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK and exported to more than 120 countries. The next-generation all-electric Jaguar XJ builds on the characteristics synonymous with its predecessors – beautiful design, intelligent performance and revered luxury. Our engineers continue to work on the next-generation all-electric Jaguar XJ.”
“We remain committed to our long-term strategy and our product portfolio remains the same, but the unprecedented situation will inevitably have an impact on our immediate plans.”
The battery-powered Jaguar XJ will be built on a new MLA platform that’s reportedly lighter than the outgoing architecture. Rumor has it that the new XJ could feature a four electric motor setup (one per wheel), a 90.2 kWh battery pack and a driving range of up to 292 miles (470 km).
