10 Cars That Embarrassed Their Makers

1. Jaguar X-Type

The Jaguar X-Type was designed to compete with rear wheel drive compact vehicles. The problem is Jaguar, or more accurately Ford, didn’t want to spend the money to develop a new platform. Instead Ford used the Ford Contour platform to create the Jaguar X-Type. Ford upgraded the engine heads and added all-wheel drive in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. The interior was spruced up with wood veneer and a healthy dose of leather, while the exterior was giving a chrome grille similar to other Jaguar vehicles. Sales in the first year were good, with a healthy 33,018 units sold, but it didn’t last. The X-type was ridiculed for being nothing more than a re-bodied Ford and not a “real” Jaguar. Sales eventually fell off and the X-Type was put to rest.