Big rush for flagship XJ; JAGUAR: Eager customers place orders sight unseen.

JAGUAR is booking advance orders for its new flagship XJ from potential buyers who have not even seen the car.

And with full-scale production of the XJ due to start in the autumn, the company is restricting the annual shutdown of the Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham to two weeks in order to prepare for anticipated high volumes.

The factory also needs to keep running to meet continuing demand for the successful XF mid-range car - particularly the popular new 3-litre diesel variant, the company said yesterday.

The summer shutdown at Land Rover's Lode Lane factory at Solihull will also be restricted to two weeks - compared with the traditional three weeks - as the lines gear up to produce new variants of the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery.

Jaguar Land Rover's comments contradicted a claim by a national Sunday newspaper that the company was drawing up plans for a prolonged summer shutdown as sales remain depressed by the global recession. Spokesman Don Hume said yesterday it was too early to say whether demand for the XJ, which was officially unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea last Thursday night, would match the levels generated by the XF last year which saw the order book filled for months in advance.

"But there has been very strong initial interest in the new car, including some customers trying to place orders sight unseen," he said.

"We are also transferring 300 people from Solihull to Castle Bromwich to support XJ production," Mr Hume said.