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September 20 2004
JAGUAR LEAPS FORWARD
IN 2004
J.D. POWER & ASSOCIATES INITIAL QUALITY STUDY
Jaguar has moved up
to become the highest-ranking European nameplate in the latest 2004 J.D.
Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS). Leaping from 10th place
in 2003 to rank third overall is a direct result of a 20 percent improvement
on its previous year's performance.
The third-place ranking
puts Jaguar well ahead of rivals Mercedes-Benz (10th place), Audi (11th)
and BMW (12th). Only Lexus and Cadillac placed higher than Jaguar.
"The significant
progress we've made is a testament of our dedication to quality and our
commitment to continuously improve our product," said Mike O'Driscoll,
president of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America.
Jaguar's best-performing
model was the new XJ sedan, though the S-TYPE and X-TYPE also made marked
improvements in their performances, by 28 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
"The performance
of our XJ model and the Browns Lane plant in the UK where it's manufactured,
are largely responsible for our improved ranking," O'Driscoll added.
Every year J.D. Power
& Associates, the highly-respected research organization, conducts
an independent, industry-wide examination of quality during the first
90 days of vehicle ownership. For the 2004 study, more than 50,000 new
vehicle owners responded to the in-depth survey evaluating quality in
nine different categories ranging from the engine and transmission quality
to the seats and sound system.
Traditionally, new
models in their first year of production don't perform well in initial
quality surveys. However, that was not the case with the all-new aluminum
intensive XJ. Ranking second in the J.D. Power survey only to the Lexus
LS430 in the luxury car segment, the new XJ ranked well ahead of the other
competitors, including the BMW 7-Series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and
Audi A8.
Other Jaguar models
also continue to improve in performance. This year, the S-TYPE showed
a marked jump in its quality performance, improving by an impressive 28
percent since last year - placing it among the top five cars in the mid-luxury
segment. The X-TYPE has enjoyed a 32 percent jump in initial quality since
its introduction in 2002, jumping 13 percent from last year alone.
"It's a fact
that, without exception, every car that Jaguar builds today is better
in quality than it was just a year ago," said C.J. O'Donnell, executive
vice president of Marketing, Sales and Communications, Jaguar North America.
"Of course, we
will never be completely happy until Jaguar reaches the number one slot
in all aspects of quality. That's our ultimate goal, a goal we feel is
an achievable one," O'Donnell added.
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