2012 Jaguar XE - Unveil
2012 Jaguar XE - Reveal
2012 Jaguar XE car and Drive
Jaguar has a new sports car in development, and is aiming to roll it out at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, with hopes of putting into production for 2012. The Jaguar model, the XE, will be positioned under the XK, and aimed squarely at Porsche's 911. The debut of this much anticipated vehicle will be on the 50th anniversary of the iconic Jaguar E-Type, its spiritual successor. Rumors of a smaller, more focused Jaguar sports car have been around for decades. Ford, which never truly understood Jaguar, cancelled work on one called the F-Type about 10 years ago deciding to focus the company's resources instead on the development of diesel engines and the X-Type wagon. Jaguar's new owner, Ratan Tata, is in 100% support of the development of the XE. Tata knows they must reprioritize the roadster, and offer something flashy and new. If the mid-engine coupe XE becomes a reality, it will be the first sportscar launched by the British brand since it acquisition by Tata. Besides competing with the Porshe 911, the Jaguar XE will also be facing the 2009 BMW Z4, the Audi R8, and the Mercedes SLK.
2011 XE Design
The 2013 Jaguar XE will be built on an all-new aluminum platform and will be powered by a V8 petrol engine with 385hp in a naturally aspired version and 510 hp in the supercharged version. Reports also suggest that the upcoming XE will be made as a hybrid variant. The gas/electric vehicle will use a much more efficient lithium ion battery pack, as opposed to today’s nickel based energy storage devices. Fans of high performance don’t fret, because Jaguar is also preparing an R version of the XE.
The XE will feature an all-new aluminum platform, which will eventually underpin the XK, XF and XJ – as opposed to their current steel platforms. Although a mid-engine setup had been rumored, the XE will use a more conventional front-engine, rear-drive configuration.
Power for the base model XE is expected to come from a supercharged V6, which could produce up to 350 horsepower – but given Tata’s use of Ford-sourced motors, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an EcoBoosted 3.5-liter V6 with power in the same realm.
A mid-level model will check in with at least a 385 horsepower version of Jaguar’s 5.0-liter V8, while a 510 horsepower supercharged V8 will be reserved for the range’s top billing. A hybrid model is also rumored to be in the works.
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