Events
ELEVATING YOUR STATUS? PARK PLACE JAGUAR PUSHES THE PACE
Although a big fan of Dallas’ annual auto show – the Auto Show – I’m becoming a bigger fan of the almost-monthly events hosted by the Park Place family of dealerships. The spring rollout began (appropriately) with an unveiling of the Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible, moved on to Porsche’s updated 911 and – most recently – relocated to the Addison hangar of Status Jet for a preview of Jaguar’s new XE sport sedan and F-Pace SUV. It is – and you’ve already guessed it – a breathtaking pace for new product, but the event team at Park Place would seem to have their heads and arms fully around it.
Although we’d like to throw a few thousand words at the polished P-51 greeting guests as they arrived (or the swag provided by an event partner, Celebrity Cruises), we’ll discuss instead the singular attractiveness that is the new F-Pace SUV. With a front-mounted engine – gas or diesel – driving power to all wheels, and proportions that are decisively rear-wheel drive, this is the perfect antidote for those tiring of crossovers comprising little more than front-wheel drive hatchbacks (Audi Q5, BMW X1) with a lift kit. Some will argue the F-Pace isn’t much more than a tall wagon itsownself, but we’re intrigued by the Jag’s aluminum construction, rakish profile and diesel availability.
The new XE, Jaguar’s latest stab at the 3-Series, won’t quite grab the attention of millennials that the F-Pace will garner, but is nevertheless attractive, especially if you live in zip codes overrun by the 3-Series. We’ve not driven either the XE or F-Pace, but early reviews suggest both new Jags deliver a lithe, athletic drive. At price points starting at or under $40K, Jaguar’s marketing suits should offer very attractive monthly payments. And that leaves plenty of cash for Status Jet…or Celebrity Cruises.
[PHOTO CREDIT: TONY VALADEZ]
