What is in store for car enthusiasts in the 2008 brands?
Article written by Makini Maluki
|
|
|
March 04, 2008: The beginning of every year heralds product launches for automakers that either make or break many a manufacturer. Let us take a closer look at this year's notable launches. |
|
Jaguar: This is one troubled automaker. Currently under the stewardship of the Ford Motor Company, Jaguar and its stable mate Land Rover, are up for sale to the highest bidder with the single caveat that both be sold as a single unit.
|
|
Jaguar is up for sale primarily due to its below par sales performance globally.
|
|
Though it possesses one of the most emotive brand names, Jaguar's products have long been unable to compete head to head with the mighty Germans (Mercedes, BMW & Audi). Jaguars have always been retro styled; old fashioned even.
|
This was because Jaguar thought it prudent to have successive models continue to pay homage to its illustrious past.
So while its core competitors produced state of the art vehicles that evolved with time, Jaguar styled their cars in the same manner as it did in the first half of the century. And the buying public slowly lost interest.
|
|
For 2008, Jaguar has launched the new Jaguar XF. In terms of design, this car is nothing like Jaguars of old. It has a modern, distinctive and powerful form that is not immediately identifiable as a Jaguar. The Jaguar XF is the car Jaguar hopes, nay prays, will save it.
|
|
Volvo: Another automaker from the Ford stable, Volvo launched the Volvo XC60 for 2008. This is a small, compact SUV that hopes to emulate the successes of its bigger brother the XC90. The larger XC90 acquitted itself very well against the established brands such as Land Roverfs Discovery, Mercedesf ML, BMWfs X5 and Volkswagenfs Touareg.
|
Aimed at the discerning driver who chose to maintain a low profile yet wanted a fun Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Now Volvo has set its sights at the small SUV class and launched the XC60. The XC60 is going up against class stalwarts that include the Toyota RAV 4, Land Rover Freelander and BMW X3. The XC60 had better be mighty impressive; itfs got a hell of a fight on its hands.
|
Volkswagen: Europefs largest automaker unveils two new models for 2008.
The first is the new VW Passat CC. To understand the point of the Passat CC, you only need to look at Mercedesf uber successful CLS model.
|
|
Like the Mercedes CLS, which is based on the successful E-class, the Passat CC is based on the Passat saloon and will share everything from the floor pan to the drive train. So why offer two similar models? Because these vehicles are designed simply to enhance brand image further.
|
Both the CLS and CC are saloon vehicles with coupe-like silhouettes.
Though not as practical as their saloon brethren, they are meant to appeal to a younger, sportier target market.
|
Also new for 2008 is the VW Tiguan (The term Tiguan is an amalgamation of Tiger & iguana; I kid you not...).
Volkswagen and Volvo as mentioned above, arrived to the small SUV party late. Almost all major automakers had some form of representation in what is quickly becoming a very lucrative segment.
|
The new Tiguan, commonly referred to as the Baby Touareg, is in line with Volkswagen's vision of providing a car for everyone.
And tapping into the very lucrative small SUV segment, of course.
|
|
From Japan, the mental Orientals return to once again terrorise innocent road users this year. I am of course referring to Subarufs rally inspired Impreza STi, Mitsubishi's utterly mad Evolution 10 and Nissan's giant slayer, the Skyline GT-R.
|
|
The turbo charged Impreza, badged the WRX, has been around for what seems an eternity now. It was voted car of the decade by the European motoring press for providing a sublime mix of speed and agility that startled mainstream sports cars for only a fraction of the cost.
|
|
Mitsubishi followed suit with the Evolution now in its tenth reincarnation. A few World Rally Championships under their respective belts raised their profiles even further.
|
|
But other than the ability to cover ground at an astonishing pace, they aren't very good at much else. Due to their aggressive drive train and suspension setups, they remain a pain to drive in heavy traffic, have a voracious thirst for fuel and can be eye wateringly expensive to maintain.
|
|
Finally, the Nissan Skyline GT-R now simply referred to as the GT-R. The Skyline has always possessed the uncanny ability of bloodying the noses of the very exclusive end of the sports car category comprising Porsche & Ferrari whilst costing half as much.
|
|
The brand may not have the exclusive cachet as the seductive Italian, but that has not stopped Nissan from easily selling its entire production of the GT-R within a couple of months after its launch.
|
