THE new Jaguar 2.0-litre X-type will take the company right into the heart of the corporate sector, hooking company car drivers attracted to the bait of its £19,995 price tag, according to Dermot Harkin, the firm's director of UK operations.

Harkin said: 'This car allows us to appeal to a broader range of people. The X-type 2.0-litre will attract people who will not have considered us before.'

Jaguar is confident the 2.0-litre model will reflect its traditional values of style at an affordable price, and along with pricing, has been working hard to ensure the car is a fleet-friendly as possible, with good residuals (46% after three-years/60,0000-miles according to CAP) and CO2 emissions of 219 g/km.

Key to the strong resale values will be ensuring the market is not flooded with X-types, and Harkin was keen to stress that the model will not become a huge volume car. It will, however, provide an alternative to high-spec Mondeos, Vectras and Passats.

He said: 'Residuals are very important for customer loyalty. Hopefully customers will come back time and time again. We're looking for measured growth. We believe 40% of people will be coming up into the sector and 50% will come from the premium sector.'

On the subject of a diesel variant, Harkin would not set a possible date for its introduction. The 2.0-litre model is the first Jaguar ever to be front wheel drive and the company is wary of it being labelled a Mondeo in a posh suit. A diesel will take the car further still from the legendary principles of rear-wheel drive cars and as a result, Harkin believes patience is important in not damaging its image with a badly chosen engine.