Infiniti vs. Jaguar

AUDIMAN4 submitted on 09/09/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 7:13 PM
from: www.autospies.com

[30] user comments | category: Spy Shots

Tags: Infiniti, Jaguar, image, US market

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Infiniti

Jaguar

image

US market

Infiniti vs. Jaguar

Two very under represented brands on this site.

Who has better brand image in the US and why? Jaguar, once considered to be one of the most prestigious brands, lost everything after Ford bought them out.

Infiniti, on the other hand, has made significant strides in the last few years with new products, but still has been unsuccessful selling the Q45.

Infiniti does more volume than Jaguar, but that alone can't be the only factor in determining who has a stronger image in the market.

I look forward to your responses.

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 9/9/2006 9:40:12 PM

0 Boost

dont forget the large truck of theres, i forget the name, something X, qx or something. It really is hideous

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mstangpny07 - 9/9/2006 9:48:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

^QX56, based of the Nissan Armada.

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lexusis350 - 9/9/2006 9:49:29 PM

+1 Boost

I think Infiniti has the best chance in the U.S. Like the article said, Ford bough Jaguar and once Ford buys a car company, the only way they can go is down. Infiniti is still owned by Nissan and Nissan sales skyrocketed in 2001 so they logically have the better chance.

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melsucceeded - 9/9/2006 10:01:46 PM

+2 Boost

I like Infiniti cars but Jaguar is more prestigious. The Jaguar XJ series is one of the most distinguish/exclusive cars in automotive history. Distinguish wood, thick lambswool carpet, and the works. I think the Jaguar name is more exclusive than most cars. Jaguars never really came in first place against the competition, in terms of performance. But, being the owner of a Jaguar distinguishes you from the rest. Jaguar=Exclusivity, more so than the competition.

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huu76 - 9/9/2006 10:19:14 PM

0 Boost

I'd say Jaguar has a better (more upclass) image on the market right now.

Financial they may not be doing that well, but their cars are still exclusive (no FOBs or yuppies), not very many X-types are sold (sort of pricey compared to the competition). Funny, apparently Europe likes the Mondeo so you think the X would sell better.

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mstangpny07 - 9/9/2006 11:30:32 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

You can NOT get a car more elegant and refined than a Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas.
There's a certian aura about it....It seperates itself from the competition. It's luxury at its finest. There's just something about it...it may not be the best in every category, but it comes together as a prestigious, dignified British luxury sedan. Of course, logically there are better choices, like S550, A8, 750, but for a standard ultra-luxury big sedan, the Jaguar is it. The Q45 can't even touch it.
On the other hand, the S-Type can't even touch the M35/45.

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senorgato - 9/10/2006 12:28:52 AM

+2 Boost

Infiniti is in the same position as Acura. Neither has a flagship that can compete with the S-Class, A8, or 7Series in terms of performance, prestige, and luxury. The difference in the two is that Acura has not attempted to build one, but Infiniti has and has failed. Jaguar has it's flagship that is able to compete with the big boys and it has a long history that can't be shaken, even through less-than-desirable products.

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1995e34 - 9/10/2006 1:27:43 AM

+2 Boost

"brand image" may be the one thing jaguar has been able to maintain over their entire lifetime. reliability is another story. just saying the word "jaguar" makes people think of tea time and royalty. however, jaguar has not exactly lived up to their "brand image"

infiniti prouces a far more practical, affordable, and in some cases more stylish auto, but doesn't have the same name recognition as jaguar.

what they have in common is their persistant focus on sportiness. although polar oppposites in terms of motor sport history, both are a fun drive.

i EXPECT great things from infiniti over the next decade, and i HOPE for great things from jaguar. jaguar is a very unique brand, as it's the only internationally popular british make capable of doing any type of volume.

we've seen one after another of british makers falling off the face of the earth. and it would be a shame if i wouldn't even seriously consider buying a jaguar if in the market for a similar car.

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Dante - 9/10/2006 1:59:15 PM

+1 Boost

I'm a huge Nissan fan so I'm going with Infiniti.

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S4cabriofox - 9/10/2006 5:24:41 PM

+1 Boost

I'm split down the middle.

I'd rather get a G35 than an X-Type for sure, and an M35/M45 over an S-Type any day. But I'd definitely take an XJ8 over a Q45 (though the XJ isn't as close to my heart as the three Germans), and you wouldn't be able to lure me away from the gorgeous new XK with any Infiniti product.

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urbansouljah - 9/10/2006 9:00:12 PM

+1 Boost

MDalle,

The 03 and later S-type's are true Jags. The V8, suspension, and other parts are Jaguar. The platform was actually co-developed for both the lincoln ls and the s-type at the same time. The next S-type is using an all-new steel platform according to Jaguar. The S-type was never out of Jaguar's segment. It's part of the segment they should have been in a long time ago. The car was just poorly done.

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Dave - 9/10/2006 10:13:41 PM

+1 Boost

So far, all the comments have centered on Infinti getting very good but stil failing with the Q45. Well, here's the lowdown. Since Ghosn rescued Nissan back from imminent bankruptcy, he's been some what tight with the budget. They(Nissan) spents lots of money to redo virtually their entire lineup quickly. Concerning Infiniti, they spents the bucks and made the G35 into a winner...and the 2007 model looks to continue that roll. Then they also worked hard and redesigned the M into a high contender. In the whole midst of things, the Q45 never seemed to get any attention for a redesign. The reason being the Q45 is the most expensive and from a strictly profit point of view, would not be productive to totally redesign at this time. (Sources say they are waiting to make their money back on the M before they totally redo the Q.) And it doesn't help that Nissan is planning to go global with the Porsche 911 turbo fighting GT-R in 2008, no easy task. Development is well underway and a car of that caliber ins't gonna be exactly light on the budget. There is no doubt that the brass at Nissan know the Q45 needs a complete overhall as the M did. But they don't have the enormous cash reserves like Toyota does(building a totally new LS460 AND LS600 hybrid at the same time) so it'll have to wait.

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urbansouljah - 9/10/2006 10:15:17 PM

+1 Boost

The x-type is actually based on the newer Mondeo and not the car that was called the Contour here in the states. They should have just used the S-type platform for the car.

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S4cabriofox - 9/10/2006 11:21:06 PM

+1 Boost

The redesigns of the (random) Saab 9-5, Infiniti Q45 and Jaguar S-Type are imminent, and none of those cars can come too soon.

urbansouljah-

Therefore, the X-Type would be based on a car that's as cr@p as the Mondeo in most respects, the forgotten Lincoln LS.

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urbansouljah - 9/11/2006 8:07:47 AM

+1 Boost

No it would be based on the S-type. The S-type and the LS didn't share suspensions or transmissions. The S-type did use a V6 from the LS and the LS borrowed Jaguar's own AJ-V8 engine block with Ford heads ahead once it got to the US. The difference between the two cars became like night and day after the 03 models were launched. The DEW platform was co-developed by Jaguar and Lincoln and is not built by Ford but by a third party platform maker. That's why the LS got such great reviews and was the best Lincoln ever built.

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urbansouljah - 9/11/2006 8:12:09 AM

+1 Boost

The S-type was actually launched first, so that would technically make it the S-type platform and not the LS platform.

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DallasMR2 - 9/11/2006 11:56:03 AM

+1 Boost

i think Jaguar designes age MUCH better than Infinitis. they are classier, better proportioned, and age better. look at a 10 year old Jag and then look at a 10 year old Infiniti.

i think my favorite Jaguar would be a new XJR, black. :)

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M53R - 9/11/2006 1:11:52 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

i prefer infiniti has better style, I HATE THE LOOKS OF JAGUARS. they look wrongly built, aweful!. anyway thats just an opinion.

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S4cabriofox - 9/11/2006 7:13:21 PM

+1 Boost

The S-Type is on the LS's platform, is what I'm saying. I believe they were developed at the same time.

DallasMR2-

It's unfair to compare a 10 year old Infiniti, because they just recently made their comeback. Infinitis before 2001 were P'sOS.

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urbansouljah - 9/11/2006 7:56:45 PM

+1 Boost

What I was saying is that the platform was co-developed by Ford(Lincoln) and Jaguar from the start. It's not an LS platform. It's called the DEW platform. The S-type was launched with the platform first. The only Jaguar built on a Ford platform is the x-type. The DEW platform is outsourced to another company and I said before, it's actually more of a Jaguar platform than a Ford platform. Most of the development took place in Coventry by Jaguar engineers.

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ryaajus - 9/12/2006 1:19:38 PM

+1 Boost

Senorgato, I beg to differ. Infiniti has never attempted to compete w/ the S-Class or 7 series. The Q45 was always the flagship but it was always in the same class as the E class...but they did try to compete w/ Lexus LS. New they are priced in the 50's. I personally still own a 1999 Q that I purchased new. I also own a 645 BMW and a 2002 S430...I've had a hell of a less problems w/ the Q than the merc. The merc looks better and turns more heads...that's all i think they're good for nowadays.....To answer the question....Jags are still considered more of a prestigious brand...i think maybe because of the price of the vaden plas...nice car..wouldn't buy one but it's nice

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DallasMR2 - 9/12/2006 1:20:51 PM

+1 Boost

S4cabriofox-
Infiniti's still aren't completely up to luxury car snuff. do they have great engines? without question...but that has more to do with the parent company. their designs are funky, and their interiors rival Cadillac for the worst in the luxury market. (IMO)

an Infiniti would be good to have as long as the current generation. a Jaguar is more timeless. it won't look old as soon as the new one comes out. (kinda like Mercedes and BMW...pre bangle that is)

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essentielle - 9/12/2006 1:36:32 PM

+1 Boost

I am hearing a lot of comments on the product. However, a company's brand image is not comprosed of only its product.

Any comments from a different angle?

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1995e34 - 9/13/2006 12:08:09 AM

+1 Boost

brand image is more of what any average person on the street thinks of when they hear the name of the company. and the jaguar name still has recognition second only to mercedes.

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essentielle - 9/13/2006 10:01:42 AM

+1 Boost

I tend to agree with 1995e34. The rich history that Jaguar has definitely helps their brand image, although the current product offering does not necessarily reflect it.

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