Forward, Felines

A commercial for one of the most eagerly anticipated television programs of the past week promised to divulge the exact whereabouts of large, black Jaguars along the Eastern Seaboard.

The TV special, which detailed the possibility that a large cat might be attacking dairy cattle in the hills of West Virginia, turned out to be a disappointment for motoring enthusiasts. We're far more interested in black Jaguars with purrs that emanate from finely tuned V8 engines.

This beloved British motorcar has a rich history, but with too many "comeback" elements to it. That's why the latest news — that an Indian conglomerate is one of the leading bidders for the fabled marque — has Jaguar aficionados wondering what the next chapter in its story will bring.

Tata Motors, a subsidiary of Tata Group, will undoubtedly be the talk of the automotive press pool at the North American Auto Show next month. This family-owned company makes everything from economy cars for India's growing middle class to motorized farm equipment.

Some industry watchers are horrified at the prospect of Jaguar falling into foreign hands once again. But these were largely the same folks who shuddered at the thought of Jaguar being owned by — gasp! — Americans in the 1980s. It turned out that not only was Ford Motor Co. a faithful steward of the Jaguar brand, but the guys from Dearborn introduced quaint concepts such as quality control to the boys in Coventry.

No longer do Jaguars shed dashboard screws when driven off the dealer lot for the first time. And two decades on, there is now a full range of Jaguars, from powerful, open-air coupes to stately saloons, that are all extraordinary to drive. True, the breakup of Ford's once-mighty Premier Automotive Group is as disappointing as the aforementioned cable TV program. Ten years ago, Ford actually moved its luxury-group executives to offices in Orange County, Calif., to rub elbows with affluent Americans who crave pricey imports.

The move paid off: Ford's luxury brands, especially Jaguar, boast sophisticated designs and beefed-up power plants. The newest addition to this proud family is the Jaguar XF, which hits showrooms next year. It captures the aggressive look and feel of a Jaguar like no four-door sedan has in a generation.

Last year's overhaul of the XJ flagship is another such success story. What Jaguar has done is to skillfully combine the best elements of a muscle car and a luxury sedan. Jaguar owners drive assuredly knowing that both aspects can be captured in one car.

They also take pleasure in the fact that world-class engineering doesn't have to come at exorbitant costs. We live in an age when every major car company has its own so-called super-luxury brand. Take this challenge: Test-drive any of these super cars, all priced well north of $150,000, and then a Jaguar, which is likely to be priced nearly half that amount. You'll most likely come away buying two Jaguars instead.

Which brings us back to the Tata Group, the likely future owner of Jaguar. This respected Indian family knows a thing or two about catering to elite and discerning customers: Its hotels are among the best in the world. It also controls a high-end chain of jewelry stores, as well as a charter business jet service.

There's often nothing better for a car brand with a rich history than a new and ambitious corporate owner. Tata knows that if it successfully purchases Jaguar, the world will be scrutinizing every move it makes. So it's likely to bend over backward, making certain Jaguar continues its triumphant ride.

A new owner such as Tata will also ensure that the craftsmen in Coventry, England, who have built Jaguars for generations, have the very best engineering and design resources at their disposal to produce the next generation of the XK coupes. These hot rods have helped define the fine Jaguar run of the past 10 years.

Detroit's upcoming auto show is sure to churn out lots of speculation on the future of Jaguar. But the best bet for 2008 is that this big cat is a long way from the endangered species list.