Jaguar N.Z. introduces cheaper XJ6

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 31

Jaguar N.Z. introduces cheaper XJ6

Jaguar New Zealand has joined other European car importers who have established beachheads in this country in the last few years by introducing its cheapest XJ6 so far. It is a 2.9-litre version of the XJ4O series and it retails for $99,500, in spite of its high level of equipment. Many New Zealand company executives have a maximum level of $lOO,OOO to spend on a car and as, until now, all XJ6s have cost more than that, a Jaguar has been out of their reach. The “cheapie” has been introduced with the co-operation of Britain’s Jaguar Cars, Ltd, according to Russell Reynolds, managing director of Jaguar New Zealand, Ltd.

The new model is fitted with the all-alloy single overhead camshaft AJ6, six-cylinder engine that develops 123 kW. The car is visually similar to the bigger engined XJ6, Sovereign and Daimler models. It features a four stage automatic transmission and has the figured walnut wood veneer finish for the instrument panel console and door trims for which Jaguar has long been famous. Standard equipment includes tinted window glass, integrated air conditioning, a six-speaker

AM/FM radio/c’assette sound system, power assisted steering, centralised door locking and electrically operated windows.

High quality wool tweed cloth upholstery is used.

Jaguar productivity has risen from 1.2 cars per man five years ago to 4.5 today and Sir John Egan, the chairman and chief executive of the Coventry carmaker, is predicting productivity will reach six per man, at least, before he is satisfied. Britain has lost much of its motor industry, but Jaguar has forged on against the trend in this decade.

“We have reversed 100 years of trade decline in Britain and for the past few years our share of world trade has stopped falling,” Sir John said. Last year, in spite of a difficult luxury car market in America, Jaguar increased production 8 per cent and instigated a big programme to improve company cost efficiency.

A large investment programme was a $llO million modernisation of the body shop. The first phase of a new group technology machine project came on stream last year and automated engine test facilities at Jaguar were commissioned.