Every major brand redesign follows a familiar pattern. The new look is unveiled and the world piles in. Some people like it, some don’t. The company declares itself satisfied that’s good because they’re talking about it. Then, they wait for the sales figures to convey whether it’s a hit or a flop.
Put like that, the new Jaguar is on that same road. But even by the precarious nature of rebranding, this one seems especially dangerous. To say it’s radical is an understatement. This is a kitchen sinking on an epic scale.
Gone is the famous leaping cat logo. Instead, there is a new double-J logo. Banished too is any reference to past cars that were known for their soft, feline curves. The only successor seen so far is outsized, deliberately imposing with sharp lines.
The Type 00, as it’s called, scrapping the suggestion of linkage to the classic E-Type and the rest of yesteryear, is a grand tourer, a clear statement vehicle. So far, it’s been presented in just two colours, pink and blue – Miami pink and London blue to be precise. Its large frame and interior owe more to a Rolls-Royce Phantom or stretch limo than a practical motor for getting from A to B.
There will be two accompanying models, also all-electric, a saloon and SUV. The new range will be pricier, too – starting at £100,000, twice the cost of the cheapest Jaguar in the now discontinued line-up, with suggestions from the company that some variations will reach £150,000.
Even allowing for the fact that what’s been revealed to date is a prototype, and inevitably, the final product due in 2026 may turn out to be less extreme, this is one large gamble. Jaguar Land Rover, or JLR, and its parent, the Indian conglomerate Tata, are not holding back, putting all the chips on one number. Stopping selling the current Jaguar is dramatic evidence of that intent.
They can take the pain – Jaguar’s sibling marques, Land Rover (new Defender) and Range Rover (new classic Range Rover and Sport), have been world bestsellers in recent years and the same team responsible for their success is behind this reincarnation, rebirth, call it what you will. Whether Jaguar’s workers, most of whom are based in Britain, where the new line-up will be built, will survive the loss remains to be seen.
Something had to be done. For decades, Jaguar has taken a fearsome pounding from the sleek Germans of Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche. Sales which used to total more than 200,000 a year had slumped to 60,000 (versus two million each for BMW and Mercedes). No one, though, expected something quite so … different.
To emphasise that departure, the big reveal was heralded by a short teaser that owed more to a fashion catwalk than four wheels. It’s a theme that will continue as the new Jaguar will be sold via dealerships that will not resemble traditional car showrooms but fashion emporiums.
In the advert, models stood in “out there”, brightly coloured outfits without a single car in sight. The New York Post said it was “the latest example of idiotic and woke corporate virtue signalling”. Elon Musk, a rival with his Tesla, sniped on his X network, asking Jaguar: “Do you sell cars?”
Bring it on was the attitude, in public anyway, of JLR’s creative director, Gerry McGovern. “Jaguar has no desire to be loved by everybody,” he said at the Miami launch. In response to criticism of the new exterior as “brutal”, McGovern also said that as a son of Coventry, heavily bombed in the Second World War and subsequently home to some modernist constructions, “brutalism is part of British culture”.
To a point, Gerry. Brutalism exists all right, but that does not mean it is popularly loved or even admired. Quite the contrary.
What possessed those architects was that same pursuit of differentiation. There’s no doubt Jaguar had fallen into a rut. Its vehicles were heavily identified with the sheepskin coat-wearing macho, at home propping up a golf or rugby club bar. They were the sort who in days gone by would have puffed on a cigar and blown their smoke across their fellow drinkers. Jaguar was a symbol of aspiration once – the fact that the late John Prescott was known as “Two Jags” spoke volumes – but not so much today.
Adrian Mardell, JLR’s chief executive, says Jaguar is not trying to repackage past glories for existing fans. It’s about making a fresh start in appearance, power source and price to woo an entirely new type of customer: “It’s a total reinvention.”
Yes, but will it sell? That of course is the multi-billion-pound question. For a start, the 00 as seen is too big for Britain’s squeezed roads. It may be OK for the US, the largest market for JLR, and other international destinations, but not the home country.
Pure electric vehicles are no longer the rage as doubts persist about the EVs’ range, their weak second-hand value and the slow roll-out of charging points. Mardell shakes off the naysayers, claiming to have 16,000 expressions of interest already, which will soon rise to 20,000 and then 40,000.
Others, though, have been down this road and come unstuck – notably the Italians of Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati. Not least either, Jaguar itself, previously with a series of new models. Always, Germany saw them off.
Will that be repeated? Mardell is doubling down, saying he’s secured the reaction he wanted by stoking controversy. That’s true, but those in favour appear to be heavily outnumbered by those against. He will maintain that provided there are enough in the former camp to buy the car, that does not matter. It’s the case as well that some purchasers will be attracted to the new Jaguar simply out of a desire to stand out.
They’re not fools, the LR side of JLR has produced some brilliant new designs. If they’re right, the new Jaguar will stand as a testament to their genius; fail, and it’s likely those former successes will be forgotten.
They must have nerves of steel. According to McGovern: “A faint heart never won, ever. It’s better to have tried and failed than not tried at all.” Brave words, undoubtedly. Brave but foolhardy, time will tell.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwin-turbo%2C%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%20and%20manual%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503%20bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E513Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh646%2C800%20(%24176%2C095)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RACE CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
8.15pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
9.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
