Ford’s pending sale of Jaguar and Land Rover took another turn overnight with the suggestion that Tata intend to sell off Jaguar almost immediately after their purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

According to Edmunds, a source has revealed that Tata has already purchased 450 acres outside of Delhi, and plans to build a new production plant that will produce Land Rover SUV’s and that Tata will almost immediately put Jaguar back up for sale.

It would seem that Tata have their eye on Land Rovers SUV based product range and technologies and not Jaguar’s sportscars and gentleman’s carriages.

One would presume that Ford and the Unions have some knowledge of these plans but how this would or could affect the sale is unknown. If this rumour is true then it will mean that Jaguar’s future remains in-limbo for a little longer than expected.

The idea of India’s Tata, a manufacturer of basic transport for the masses (like the Nano), owning the iconic Englishness that is Jaguar does seem like an odd fit to many. With the critically acclaimed XF due to go on sale in March, a recently revamped XK range and an improving bottom line, Jaguar shouldn’t be left sitting on the sidelines for too long.