I get the impression from a lot of the Diesel Cynics that they have not driven a Modern Diesel engine.The first diesel I drove was a 1988 Vauxhaul Astra. It was horrible. Just slow slow slow. It didnt rev at all, was noisy and smoky. The extra weight could also be felt and made the steering very heavy. But diesels have come a long long way since then. If you dont believe me take a test drive in a VW Golf or Bora. Those engines are incredible. They have incredible amounts of Torque, which is what makes a car feel really fast, they are nearly as quite as a petrol now too. They are very driveable. I had the use of a Bora for a week and as hard as I drove it, I couldnt get less than about 45 mpg. A gentle foot will get nearly 60. The Diesel GTI version was quicker than the petrol GTI to sixty, probably why they brought out the Turbo. Havent driven the Jag so I cant comment, but I wouldnt dismiss it until I drove it.
What a bunch of luddites and cynics. First of all the X type is a "proper" Jaguar. It may have Ford underpinnings but so what. Its been breathed on by Jaguar stylists and engineers so is a proper Jag. Is a Fiat owned Ferrari any less of a Ferrari because it is owned by Fiat. I dont think so. Is an Audi A3 or A4 a Golf in dusguise? Ask an Audi owner . I know what he would say. Jaguar realised that the current big market for company vehicles ( supplied by the competition Mercedes, BMW and Audi ) are diesel powered vehicles. Is it wrong that Jaguar should neglect this very large segment of the market. I dont think so. If they are to remain a serious player in the luxury and executive segment they have to cover all the bases. As for diesels being noisy smelly and churning out black and filthy exhausts I guess the posters who wrote this have never driven or looked at the specification of the latest generation diesels. They are both cleaner and faster than the equivelant petrol engines, and in addition they are more economimical. Get into the real world guys
As one who spent his last few "working" years in the development of engines, I confirm what others have said - Diesel in 2003 is totally and utterly different from Diesel in 1983.
My present (and several previous) cars have been V6 petrol. The next will be an I4 Diesel. The performance will be within a whisker of the same, but with twice the miles per gallon.
Yes, Jaguar Product Development and Jaguar Marketing know exactly what they are doing. The customers who know (like those who've been buying Mercedes for years) want Diesel. So that's what they'll get.
rover2701 will be telling us next that rovers are as good as they used to be.
As for the X-Type being "breathed upon by Jaguar stylists", I'd suggest a course in dental hygiene and regular brushing. YUK ! Someone's obviously designed a "eurocar" and then tacked on four Jaguaresque headlights and bonnet flutes. Pathetic - most ugly so-called Jag since the XJS.
Now altogether, say, in a Brian Conley voice, "It's a Fo-o-o-o-rd !"
I know the words Jaguar and Diesel are not exactly to be found in the "great pairing" forum, but if they want to remain competitive in this corner of the market, they have got to offer one. The X Type is just a Mondeo in a Paul Smith suit in my opinion.
Diesel and Jaguar shouldn't appear in the same sentence. I wanted a X type until I drove the gasolene 3 liter, and even that didn't have enough get up and go, sounded like a Ford Taurus as well. (I am ashamed to have ever driven a Tuarus but it wasn't mine and I only drove it once)
Yep, XJ or XK are the ones to have although........S Type R??? Is it a Lincoln or a Jaguar?
Decaff coffee, alcohol free beer, diesel Jaguar. I mean, what's the point. Might as well buy a diesel Mondeo and save the difference, it's really a very good car, totally and utterly different from the older model...
also can reduce maintenance costs compared to its petrol driven sisters,just a shame the uk taxes deisel out of the market at the pumps
in my part of the world you pay 42p per litre and both by skoda 1.9 tdi and its larger mate the golf tdi turn in over 5.6-6.0 to the 100 or in real money 50+ mpg including urban driving.
both have amazing torque low down,accelerate cleanly and cruise comfortably at 140-150 kph with four up
deisel technology has come a long way and jaguar are moving with the times
and yes jag could build an suv as well..witness the new generation bmw/vw/porsche types
I drove my mates Mondeo the other day and I was, to be frank, impressed. So, comparing a Jag with a Mondeo may be realistic after all. When it comes to diesels just try the BMW or VW offerings and you will find that they are terrific pieces of engineering. A diesel Jag sounds ok to me as long as it works.
So what if it's a Ford. What's wrong with a Ford? I spend a lot of time driving around as a passenger in a new Mondeo and as said before it's a bl**dy good car. Very quiet, comfortable and relaxing.
As for power differences, they're much less than in the past and when are you ever going to need half of the power available to you in these cars on our congested roads?
The only result of Jaguar producing a diesel is more choice for the customer and that has to be good...
These new diesel engines are bringing with them advances in technology which may end up making flying cheaper for us too!
This kind of progress and innovation is what has produced great cars in history, some people need to stop living in the past and look towards the future.
however 65mpg 
and I do like diesels.
