First XKs all sold as leaper returns

JAGUAR has sold out of its first allocation (40) of its new-generation $200,000-plus XK coupe and convertible models, which are due for release inthree months’ time.

Dealers are now taking orders for 2007 cars however, Jaguar Australia was lastweek confident it could add another 20 XKs to its order bank this year.

Current XK owners make up 20 per cent of buyers, with model preferences split evenly between the coupe and convertible.

Jaguar claims the new Jag is also gaining a lot of interest from owners of Porsche cars and other high-performance V8 sportscar brands.

Loyalists get their wish granted as long-lost leaper returns to Jaguar bonnets

OF ALL the business decisions Jaguar Australia managing director David Blackhall has made since arriving in 2004, reintroducing the "leaper" ranks as one of his easiest.

The leaper was once the proud emblem on the leading edge of all Jaguar bonnets in Australia until legislative restrictions in 1970 brought about its early retirement. It was replaced with a more pedestrian-friendly badge.

However, at the urging of his wife – who had happily driven a Jaguar with the leaper in the US when he was based in Detroit – Mr Blackhall managed to get certifi cation for a pedestrian-friendly leaper from government bureaucrats within three months.



"It’s an important, iconic representation of the brand," he said. "You wouldn’t believe the letters and emails from Jaguar enthusiast all over the country after we announced it was coming back. It got us as much press in thefirst year as anything else I did."The Jaguar leaper has a rich history as a mascot that dates back to when thecompany changed its name from SS Cars to Jaguar in the 1930s. Compliant with Australian Design Rules, the new leaper has a spring-loaded mounting and will rotate 360 degrees when hit.