[Winger]

Jaguar has been considering creating an entry-level model that would compete against the Audi A3 and the Mercedes CLA Class. That still could happen, but not this decade.

Jaguar Australia managing director Matthew Wiesner told The Motor Report that the "trend toward small cars in premium brands is very strong and premium brands are doing well in that space." He continued by conceding that an entry-level model from jaguar is "definitely not" going to happen in the company's current production cycle.

Jaguar Land Rover's iQ[Al] platform could be shrunken down to accommodate a model that slots beneath the XE, but the resulting car would likely be expensive and have a cramped interior. This could force the company to build the car on a front-wheel-drive platform but Wiesner contends any such model would need to look and drive like a proper Jaguar. As he explained, "Can a front-wheel platform live up to that ethos? I don’t know... that’s a decision for the guys in the United Kingdom to make."

 

[Kingpin]

I don't think its a good idea to hold off on producing a CLA rival, right now it seems time is prime to target that market. A decade out from now... who knows what market conditions will be like, for all we know by then this model could be called off.

 

[ATS2XES]

CUVs and SUVs are the big sealers these days hopefully they have something in the works like the competition does before the trend dwindles like a smaller F pace and larger than the current F pace model..
So it makes sense to me because that is where the market trend is and where the competition is at right now..

 

[Kingpin]

CUVs and SUVs are the big sealers these days hopefully they have something in the works like the competition does before the trend dwindles like a smaller F pace and larger than the current F pace model..
So it makes sense to me because that is where the market trend is and where the competition is at right now..

One thing they can try to do is create something like the Infiniti Q30, which seems to target multiple segments, especially with its QX30 version, easy way to reach out to more.

 

[john]

This has me thinking that Jaguar could use an All Road fighter, sort of like what mercedes is up to right now.

 

[Kingpin]

Maybe with the success of cars like the Q30 we will see more news about this coming to market. Jaguar might just be sitting it out waiting for some real testing to happen with other brands before taking the risk.

 

[john]

Lexus had plans for something that sits under the Lexus IS, that might also be another indicator for Jaguar to act on but that depends on if they even use those car makers as indicators.

 

[Winger]

It is probably worth them doing, just not top of the list. They are working on their first SUV, and they might build a bigger one before they would make a smaller one.

 

[Kingpin]

Definitely not top priority since the compact luxury segment doesn't seem to have picked up as well as some car makers have thought it would. Smart cars sort of caught on for a bit but had momentum die off and Lexus wants volume. They might be waiting for a more stable economy on U.S. soil and for other economies to show some strength before pulling the trigger.

 

[Winger]

I wasn't thinking as small as the smart car. I was thinking more of a little hatchback. Similar in size to the Lexus CT, or the VW Golf.

 

[Kingpin]

Actually I was thinking something along the lines of being sized like the Mercedes CLA, picture that as a wagon with a Jaguar badge and that might be what we get

 

[john]

that's actually a good point and looking at a rendering I found, I can see what you mean: