Jaguar’s belated F-Pace entry into the sport-utility market is luring customers into its showrooms. PHOTO: DAVID MCNEW/GETTY IMAGES
Jaguar’s belated F-Pace entry into the sport-utility market is luring customers into its showrooms. PHOTO: DAVID MCNEW/GETTY IMAGES

SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Tata Motors, owner of the British automaker Jaguar, has become well know for their pricey luxury sedans and sleek roadsters, but has never been regarded as a rapidly expansive car company — now the company is becoming one of the last to jump into the SUV market.

Since its purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover and Ford Motor Company in 2008 for $2.3 billion, Tata has spent billions more transforming the brand to better compete against its German and Japanese foes in the luxury car market. Last year, Land Rover became the fastest-growing brand in the U.S. thanks to higher demand for larger vehicles. Now, Jaguar is making a similar push stateside with its cars.

At the time of the Jaguar purchase, the market was already saturated with 18 different models of luxury crossover SUVs across just three brands — Volvo, Porsche and Lexus. The distinct difference between a crossover and traditional SUV is traditionally defined by its car architecture, built higher off the ground and with bigger proportions.

Today, there are 35 different luxury crossover SUVs on the market, with eight brands claiming their crossover and their top seller.

Jaguar Cleveland President Jeffrey Davis unveiled the company’s new F-Pace crossover to a crowd during an auto show last week, after dealer owners asked the company to deliver an SUV capable of battling BMW AG’s X5, or Porsche AG’s Cayenne. The F-Pace, a five-passenger midsize vehicle priced between $40,000 and $70,000, offers a second way to cash in on SUV demand, in addition to Land Rover.

Jacki Whitlow, a woman who attended Davis’ presentation, said she already has plans to trade in Lincoln MKX sport utility for the new Jag.

On Wednesday, Jaguar is expected to report that its May dealership traffic has hit its highest point in the U.S. for a single month since 2008 —about 9,500 people hit Jaguar showrooms in May, compared with 3,800 in the same month a year ago.. Additionally, a spokeswoman said the F-Pace is already sold out through July. If you’re looking to acquire a Jaguar or an SUV, you could lease a range of vehicles, including the Jaguar XE and Range Rover Velar, from Intelligent Car Leasing.