Just been reading a bit about this new gruppo and as far as I can tell:

• It's got all the technical features (and in many ways is mechanically identical) of the current XT;
• It looks a lot better - notably the chainset, and;
• It's a lot cheaper.

Why would anyone by XT once this is out - apart from the fashionista that is?  Could this be a bit of an own goal for the Big S?

The brake levers won't have all the same adjustments as XT.

Current LX shifter pods have all the same features as XT but have steel parts instead of aluminium however XT outsells LX.

I don't think XT sales will be hit too hard.

The brake levers won't have all the same adjustments as XT.

Although to be fair they're only missing the free stroke adjustment which we all managed quite happily without for years  

DK - see my comment regarding the aforementioned fashionista.....

Yeah I thought that about the stroke adjustment.  Not the greatest of the innovations on the recent Shimano stuff.  Steel/carbon middle ring - check, Revised 2 direction downshift - check, Servo-wave - check.  Not a complaint you understand as I think it's great that the trickle down is so apparent but it does undermine the argument for buying XT IMO.

Will Shimano be updating XT so that it can justify the price compared to SLX?  I know they've only just updated XT but if this new stuff is as good as the current XT range then it makes XT something of a white elephant.