With SUVs completely off the table, Jaguar has gained a new focus on improving its passenger car lineup. The XF sedan is already enjoying better-than-expected results, with a much improved XJ flagship waiting in the wings. But Jaguar won’t stop there as the company’s long-rumored XE roadster has officially been confirmed.
Despite the global economic downturn, Jaguar is pushing forward with its roadster production plans. Believed to be called the XE, Jaguar’s new owner – Ratan Tata of Tata Motors – confirmed the existence of the roadster program in an interview with The Economic Times.
“We need to emerge with something shiny and new, which is why we are re-prioritizing the roadster right now,” Tata said. “I’m highly excited about what I see.”
Tata added that the roadster was in the early design sign-off stages.
It remains unclear what setup the roadster will have – rumors have suggest both front- and mid-engine layouts – but the base XE will likely be powered by a 5.0L V8 making 385 horsepower. An up-level R version is expected to be offered, which will up the ante with a 510 horsepower supercharged V8.
Tata failed to give a timeframe for the new roadster, but the XE could surface as early as 2011.
03/20, 12:56 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i hope this turns out nice!
03/20, 1:14 PM
posted by:
orangecones
cool story bro.
03/20, 1:42 PM
posted by:
nitinsharma1000
Seems like they are doing better than GM
03/20, 2:04 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
I hope they don’t start with the “R”ice badge on a Jaguar. That’s strictly for Pacific rim sourced vehicles driven by generation “Y” wiggers.
03/20, 2:21 PM
posted by:
F50
I thought the XE name was for the R8 rival they were doing
03/20, 2:24 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Question:
Is this any different than the XK series? Is it going to be cheaper or just replace it? XK is kinda too new to replace, so I don’t get where this is going to be put in at.
03/20, 2:56 PM
posted by:
mentir
@JakeK66
XK remains 6-series/SL sized; the proposed roadster would be positioned more at the SLK or Boxter. There’s been a lot of speculation that doesn’t really make sense, like positioning it as a 911 competitor or positioning it as an R8 fighter.
03/20, 3:34 PM
posted by:
save saab
This will be my next car (it’ll be my 3rd) car in my garage. It’s what I’ve been waiting for since the F-type (which I hope doesn’t look like it), a smaller than the XK jag. Anyways, sign me up with a R manual, (if they even have one) in 2013. This will look soo much better than anything in it’s class.
Watch this, NMOFGM, will say go pick up a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky because he thinks it won’t last long.
Madcapp, Jaguar has been using the “R” badge for almost a decade now (S-type R, XKR, XFR).
I agree, “R” isn’t that great, they should use the “Super V8″ like on the current XJ, or “Super Eight” like on Damiler branded Jags.
03/20, 3:50 PM
posted by:
jandrews90
@ save saab – what do you mean by Daimler branded Jags?
I’m so excited for this car it’s gunna look really good!
03/20, 4:57 PM
posted by:
save saab
Jaguar and Daimler (not related to Daimler-Benz) merged and Jaguar revived the name on a special XJ called the Super Eight. Just look it up on wikipedia.
03/20, 5:50 PM
posted by:
71fiveanddime
looks like ford sold too soon. but i guess its for the best in the long run. love the new xf- seen tons of them on the road lately.
03/20, 11:27 PM
posted by:
jandrews90
@ save saab – oh ok thanks
@ 71fiveanddime – yeah but i think i prefer the new owners, even if they are indian, they seem to do what they want and come out with new (extreme?) styling and i can’t help but think that ford never would have done the XF or the upcomming XE