Currently reading: Next Jaguar XJ will outrank J-Pace SUV as flagship model

Design boss Ian Callum said an SUV won't over take the long-standing luxury saloon because it's 'more sophisticated'

The Jaguar XJ will retain its place as the range-topping model in Jaguar’s line-up in its next generation, according to design boss Ian Callum. 

Callum said there was now a “consensus” within the company that the XJ, rather than a large SUV, will remain the firm’s flagship, even if such a model does eventually appear. To that end, a ‘J-Pace’ model, to sit above the Jaguar F-Pace in Jaguar’s SUV range, is still expected, albeit with careful positioning. 

New Jaguar XK: design boss wants 2+2 GT to return

“An SUV was discussed but it’s not the mainstay of the brand,” Callum told Autocar at the Frankfurt motor show

“There’s more sophistication for a flagship sedan than a flagship SUV. Only one brand can have an SUV as its flagship due to its origins and that’s Land Rover.” 

Callum said the very idea of a saloon needed to be reinvented, following the rapid rise of the SUV, the issue of electrification and the fact that markets such as North America have started taking to hatchbacks with the success of Tesla

Jaguar will continue with SUVs, though, according to Callum, and ensure they are always “sporty ones”. On the current XJ, Callum said its design remains popular because it is “different” to its rivals. He added: “The coupé profile is something I obsessed over. Some people don’t agree with it. Everything else is three-box; people simplify and categorise things. [If you do that], you lose the opportunity to define in your own way. The XJ covers that well.” 

Callum admitted the XJ was “a personal thing for me”, and he saw it as “a fundamental part of Jaguar”. He added: “It’s there and it says what Jaguar is about.” 

Related stories: 

Jaguar XJ review 

Jaguar F-Type SVR review 

BMW 7 Series review 

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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HHX621 19 December 2017

I say

Where do i sign up 4 One!?

asherpat 1 November 2017

the new XJ looks hot (but it's probabl only a concept rendering

the current XJ is an abomination of a design, painted C-Pillar or not.  But the photo at top of this article is WOW!  the stance is taut, the rear track wide and even without seeing the rear in full, I like the proportion.

But it looks like a concept of Autocar artist, the real replacement of the current ugly-ducklin will be a slightly warmed-up body-lift version of the current tofu-slab.

I want the car in the photo! 

asherpat 1 November 2017

the new XJ looks hot (but it's probabl only a concept rendering

the current XJ is an abomination of a design, painted C-Pillar or not.  But the photo at top of this article is WOW!  the stance is taut, the rear track wide and even without seeing the rear in full, I like the proportion.

But it looks like a concept of Autocar artist, the real replacement of the current ugly-ducklin will be a slightly warmed-up body-lift version of the current tofu-slab.

I want the car in the photo!