Sales of Jaguar’s new XF model have helped make the Midland luxury car company the most desirable brand in Western Europe, although the picture is less healthy for stablemate Land Rover as cash-conscious drivers continue to shun gas-guzzling off-roaders.

According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the number of Jaguars registered in Western Europe in June rose more than 31 per cent year-on-year last month - the highest by any manufacturer in Western Europe.

In all, Jaguar sold 3,836 models in June compared with 2,924 in the same month last year. The continuing popularity of the new XF saloon is thought to be mainly responsible for the good figures.

By way of comparison, Jaguar’s sales rose 70.3 per cent year-on-year in April, the first full month of the XF’s availability.

The news will be welcomed by the company’s new owner, India’s Tata Motors but is likely to leave former parent Ford less impressed.

However, the news is less than rosy for Land Rover, which saw a 36.7 per cent drop in year-on-year sales last month. The sales helped to drag down the combined group’s overall performance by 21.3 per cent in June.

Professor David Bailey, of Birmingham Business School and Birmingham Post blogger, said: “The continuing popularity of Jaguar’s XF and XK are the main reasons for its success, while the high cost of fuel has undoubtedly had an impact on Land Rover.

“However, we should remember that Land Rover had record sales only a year ago and they are probably coming off that, making comparisons difficult.”

Despite the performance he said the long term picture for Land Rover was still encouraging.

“They are also continuing to do well in North America while new market opportunities in places like Russia and India will also have a bearing on future sales,” he said.

Jaguar’s main rivals were left trailing in its wake with Audi down 5.5 per cent, Mercedes down seven per cent and Lexus down 25 per cent.

Only BMW showed any growth - up 0.1 per cent - and the Mini continued to show its popularity with sales up 8.3 per cent last month compared with June 2007. So far this year its sales are up almost 19 per cent.

The only other manufacturers outside the UK to show any growth last month were Skoda (1.6 per cent) and Renault’s low-cost subsidiary Dacia (9.7 per cent).

The heavy declines in June mark the fourth monthly drop in sales this year and the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions are being blamed for new car buyers shunning dealers.

In total, new car registrations in Western Europe in June slumped 7.9 per cent to 1.43 million vehicles.

Italy and Spain bore the worst of it, as new car registrations plunged 20 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively.

Registrations of new cars in the first half fell two per cent to 8.34 million vehicles as a result of last month’s drop, which already followed a 7.8 percent decline in May.

Former JLR parent Ford and its Swedish marque Volvo - the sole survivor of the Premier Automotive Group - were luckier than most, sliding less than one per cent each.

The region’s other major carmaker, Toyota, in Derbyshire, saw a major decline, slumping almost 19 per cent.

For the UK as a whole, sales were down 6.1 per cent last month and are down 1.6 per cent so far this year.