Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Bertone's Baby Jaguar Saloon

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.

As the happy owner of an S-type, I feel rather hurt that that I'm driving "an awful pastiche"!

Apologies Moggie, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Hope you like the Bertone edition?

By abandoning the classic grille(s) Jaguar has lost its personality. Put an "L" in the grille and you have a Lexus (or whatever from Far East). Soon BMW and Merc will be the only mass produced cars which you can identify on first glance.

I prefer the "awful pastiche" of Moggieplus4.

Frank

Am I the only one that thinks that rear end looks very Intended-for-the-US?

I guess Bodger sort of agrees with the Lexus remark, although that was at the other end of the car.

Edit: I just figured out why it gives me that feeling. It's all those reflective chrome and high-gloss areas that are everywhere, coupled with a rear light that is reminiscent of those computer case mods:

The US has always been a key market for Jaguar and has influenced the styling, and the steering, over the years.

Personally, I can't see any Lexus influence but hey...

Well, remove all that ghastly chrome and make it black - preferably matt black - and then use a less shiny paint (I know it's a rendering) then it would look much better, imo.

I actually like the front. It looks very powerful, sort of like a modernised version of Aston Martin's front.

Wow you're a tough audience

I think it looks great with enough jag influences over many years and modern as well. If they stay true to the concept I'm sure they'll sell a few.

Of course maybe they could have just slightly modified the latest Mondeo etc etc and made another XJ lookalike......

Raise the chassis and give it 4WD ala BMW X6 and I would definitely buy one!

Et voila

I like the looks of the Land Rover Defender 90, so my taste is very much debatable, he he.