SUCCESS in Germany is starting to signpost good times ahead for Jaguar across key world markets. 'If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere - and we're making it,' said chairman Nick Scheele at the IAA launch of the new XJ Series, which goes on sale in the UK on September 26.

Scheele was in bullish mood after the Coventry company's registrations total in Germany for the first eight months showed a 44 per cent improvement, from 1,523 to 2,195. Significantly, the showroom performance was Jaguar's best around the globe in a combined sales tally of 28,797 - up 15 per cent from 25,028 - to the end of August.

'We face our biggest competitors directly here, so Germany holds the key to the future of our company,' said Scheele. He said the Jaguar revival was being led by the XK8 sports car range, which was laying a strong foundation for X200, the third car line which was due to return the marque to the segment it had left 30 years ago. Scheele said X200, which will be launched early in 1999, would show that the company was capable of transferring its core market values over to a more compact package.