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X marks the spot where Jaguar hopes to invade the compact sports sedan segment. It will do so with an all-new model that should arrive at dealerships later this summer at a price that starts around $30,000.

Called the X-type, it features all-wheel drive, classy Jaguar styling and the choice of two V-6 engines. It will compete with the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class and expand Jaguar’s model line to four. Once production is fully under way, Jaguar expects X-Type sales to swell to more than 90,000 units worldwide by the second year, a figure that should help double total sales volume. Jaguar predicts it will sell about 27,000 X-Types in the United States during its first year. Europe is expected to account for roughly half of all sales.

“As well as providing a new and more affordable entry point to the Jaguar line-up, the X-TYPE also delivers a fresh and distinctive blend of Jaguar’s unmistakable styling,” said Mike O’Driscoll, president of Jaguar North America. Jaguar is owned by Ford Motor Co.

With styling that resembles a scaled-down S-Type, this new small Jag should appeal to 30-something professionals as well as to older empty nesters. Twin headlights and a traditional grille dominate the front, while cateye taillights and a rounded roofline finish off the back. The overall effect is not quite as retro as the S-Type, but it remains recognizably a Jaguar.

“Refinement and style are still intrinsic, but they are more equally balanced with a flair for spirited performance,” said Chris Colombo, X-Type brand manager. “This is a fundamental reinterpretation of Jaguar’s core values,” he said.

Driving enthusiasts will appreciate the nimble handling and all-weather traction provided by all-wheel drive. Two V-6 engines, one a 2.5-liter and the other a 3.0-liter, were derived from the S-Type. The smaller one cranks out 194 horses, while the larger is rated at 231 horsepower. Both use variable intake valve timing to broaden their powerband and enhance drivability. Jaguar says the 2.5 accelerates to 60 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds, while the 3.0 does so in 6.6 seconds.

A five-speed manual is standard on the 2.5 and optional on the 3.0. An automatic is optional on the 2.5 and standard on the 3.0. Jaguar’s J-shaped shiftgate has been retained for the automatics, but it has been refined for smoother operation, according to Jaguar.

Jaguar’s all-wheel-drive system splits power 40/60, front to rear. When the viscous center differential detects a difference in speed between the front and rear wheels, it redirects drive to the wheels with the most grip, up to the 40/60 limit. The suspension is fully independent, front and rear, and disc brakes are used on each wheel. Anti-lock is standard, as is the dynamic stability control system that helps counteract skidding. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard, but 17-inch ones are available as part of a sport package.

Front and side airbags are standard, as is a full-length si de curtain airbag that covers the side windows and offers head protection in a side impact. A sensor in the driver’s seat track estimates the driver’s distance from the steering wheel, while other sensors measure the severity of impact, either front or rear. The airbags then inflate fully, or partly, based on that data. Another sensor detects the presence and weight of the front-seat passenger, and if it is a child, the airbags won’t deploy.

The interior is sporty, yet it reflects the kind of traditional values one would expect from the maker of English automobiles. The seats are deeply contoured and leather is abundant. Maple veneer is used on the doors and instrument panel. The center of the dash is shaped like a horse collar, and it is the instrument panel’s most prominent feature. When equipped with the optional DVD-based navigation system, a seven-inch touch screen also is used to control the audio and climate control systems. Another option is JaguarNet, a telematics system at uses a Global Positioning Satellite and cellular phone to keep track of the vehicle’s location and communicate with the Jaguar response center at all times. Voice activation similar to that of the S-Type is a dealer-installed option, and it allows the driver to control audio, telephone, navigation and climate control functions simply by speaking.

The addition of the X-Type to Jaguar’s roster is one more significant step in moving Jaguar into a the mainstream, but there’s even more fun to come. The smashing F-Type concept sports car has been given the go-ahead for production, but it will be a couple of years before it gets to market.

Who says the English are boring?

Price The starting price should be about $30,000.