Ford taking over Jaguar

Hi, just wondering what year was it when Ford took over Jaguar, and henceforth started producing Ford-inspired models?

I believe it was 95, could be wrong.

And, it was not a bad thing. Ford really improved Jag's historically buggy electronics. While there are some shared components, there is no comparison between the Lincoln LS that parks next to my S-Type 4.2 at work every day. Since 03 Jag now has dependable, beautiful, fast cars.

A Toyota is not a Lexus and a Ford is not a Jaguar.

I'll second that. I own a 03 X-Type, the second model built under Ford's auspices. The fit, finish, quality, and overall performance are excellent. I never had a car that's as safe and composed, even at triple digit speeds, as this one is. Ford has accentuated Jaguar's strengths and minimized their former reliability issues.

Regards:
Oldengineer

So the suspicion of Ford's infamous realiability issues are myth in the case of Jaguar? I was surprised, because the X and S type are relatively inexpensive compared to the Jag models of about a decade ago.

Don't know much about the S Type. I've owned my X-Type a liitle over a year and put 15K miles on it with no problems. The car's built like a tank - weighing about the same as a Buick Regal. Of Course, the AWD and the extra mechanicals account for some of this. Mine has the 2.5L engine with 5 speed automatic, and, performance is about the same as a BMW 325i with automatic. The Jag's a bit larger and heavier, but, has more horses. While percieved as not quite as sporty as the BMW, I think its a better "Grand Tourer".

Regards:
Oldengineer

I believe Ford took over Jaguar in 1993. My dad's XJ6 is a 94 and it's much more reliable than his pre Ford 90 XJ6 he had before. However the first model to actually share parts with Ford was the S-Type in 1999 which has the same platform as the Lincoln LS as well as numerous other parts. Now I believe pretty much all Jags use some Ford group parts, but the XK8 was released in 1996 before parts sharing took place.

The engines are still Jaguar, the trannies are ZF (same as Mercedes), and the shared components are structural not cosmetic. Volkswagon owns Bentley, and there is some part sharing, but I don't hear anyone calling a Continental GT a Beetle.

In these times of mega global corporations owning multiple brands, people get too upset over this, IMO.

By all accounts Ford did not hurt Jaguar, they assisted with the electronics but let Jaguar be Jaguar. Many of the smaller exotic companies are owned by the automotive giants, it isn't a bad thing, and can be a win-win on both sides. The exotic brings styling and performance to the table, the giant provides economic stability and money for R&D and Marketing.

Look at Ford and Shelby, been good for both companies.

sad but after Ford took it over :( 09/17 1105 jobless in UK Jag..and a granf exit from the F1...where next, well it may just be Jag inspired Ford in NASCAR.

Ford actually took control of Jaguar in 1988 or 1989. The 1995 revamp of the XJ and the XK were done entirely under Ford ownership.

Ford taking control of Jaguar was a good thing. Quality rose significantly under Ford ownership. My disappointment comes in the product expansion...I always thought that Jaguar should have a narrowly focused lineup including a senior sedan series (XJ) and a coupe/convertible series (XJS/XK). The desire to pit Jaguar against BMW and Mercedes-Benz and Lexus was anti-Jaguar in my mind. I completely understand the business decisions at work and I probably would have been a supporter of it if I worked for Jaguar, but as a Jaguar fan/historian, I was disappointed.

Jaguar is now reducing their workforce and plant count. No company who makes as few vehicles as Jaguar needs THREE assembly plants. They should be able to produce all of their products under one roof, but even that isn't in the plan.

i really think Ford did a good job with Jaguar over the past decade or so.....Although Jaguar needs to stop using Ford group bin parts and make thier own unique engines.....I hate the fact of the X-type that uses the 3.0L Ford Taurus and MOndeo engine.....What would really please me would be the return of the XJ12 using Aston Martins v-12 engine from the Vanquish...

The X-Type's engines are derived from the "Duratec" family of Ford engines. However, the block, heads, and engine internals are "Jaguar specific". Both the 2.5 and 3 liter Jag V6s are high compression, have VVT, and make more power for their size than the rest of the "family".

Regards:
Oldengineer

Isn't the Vanquish engine itself derived from two Duratec V6s mated together?

You guys are talking about reliability with electornics in the fre-ford era, what are some of the issues that always seem to be coming up with the elctronics?

The heater matrix in the XJ40 constantly failing.

Anything along the XJ6 lines, specifically an 86 :D

1995-1997 Jaguar XJ6s are very reliable. Check for head gasket leaks though.

Jaguar would not have been able to make the new aluminum XJ if it were not for money from the Ford Motor Company.

http://www.autoreview.ru/new_site/year2003/n08/18_jaguar/800/XJ26z.jpg

check this thread for an update about Jaguar.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=386538