The future styling direction of Jaguar is mapped out by this sleek small saloon concept by Italian styling house Bertone.
Created in conjunction with Jaguar, the B99 is a Bertone project based around the dimensions of a Mercedes C-class with a slightly lower sportier roof-line. You can see more
impressions here.
The design references the Bill Lyons/Malcolm Sawyer proportions, reminiscent of the XJC coupe and the Series III, but it is not an awful pastiche of the past like the S and X-Series.
The only surviving feature of today's Jag is the XF/XJ grille, although it is slanted slightly forward.
The four doors are arranged in a clamshell design and they open to a Jaguar cabin though with a modern twist. An uninterrupted swath of polished wood across the fascia dominates, with four analogue dials ahead of the driver. The sat-nav screens and buttons are hidden behind sliding panels and the door panels are trimmed in wood rather than leather.
Let's hope that Jaguar have the courage to proceed with this new design, as to my mind it is essential that they have a competitor in the lucrative small executive saloon class, like the C-class/3-Series. It would also act as a feeder model to the larger Jaguar's on offer.
If it does go ahead, all Jaguar needs is a 4x4 cross-over for the growing BRIC markets (and GF & SB!) and to actually produce the true successor to the E-type.
