Jaguar XE Concept Car - A Speedy Roadster in the Works

 

Jaguar has a new sports car in development. 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 were 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 re-prioritize 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 BMW Z4, the Audi R8, and the Mercedes SLK.

2013 XE Design

It is probable that the 2013 Jaguar XE will employ the platform of the XK. All the same, it will be a big challenge to strip off the XK's 4.79 meter length and 1.89 meter width to make something with a length of 4.08 meters and a width of 1.78 meters against the rival Mercedes-Benz SLK. There are also speculations that Jaguar might produce other versions from a longer wheelbase variant of this narrowed platform, possibly offering range to develop four-seater niche entries to stand up against the competition in the compact premium class. Most reports have speculated that Jaguar's newest model will be a lightweight sports car. Jaguar even previewed such a car back in 2000 when it rolled out the original F-Type Concept. The XE will be based on the Jaguar range's flexible architecture, which accommodates the XK, XF and the all-new XJ, and is designed to be a larger, more formal version of the XF, but more lowslung than the current, conservative XJ. Design chief Ian Callum is emphasizing subtle heritage cues over out-and-out retro styling, so there will be none of the F-Type concept from the early '00s. Besides being too old, the hoodline of that homage to the E-Type could not meet European pedestrian collision standards. The compact Jaguar XE sports car will sit on a cast aluminum frame. The dimensions are supposedly going to challenge those of the Mercedes SLK, and that narrower chassis created for the XE could then be lengthened something that would "compete in the compact premium segment."

Power for the Jaguar XE

The new 5.0-liter AJ-V8 Gen III engines -- 385hp in naturally aspirated form, and 510hp with a supercharger -- will give the smaller, lighter XE plenty of punch.  European buyers may also be offered the XE with the zippy 272hp version of the new 3.0-liter V-6 diesel that will soon debut in the XF sedan. The new sports car is tipped to be a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive vehicle. 

A 'Green' XE?

There is speculation that the XE will also feature a plug-in hybrid option in addition to its standard power plant. As well as a plug-in option, Jaguar is also considering a smaller bio-diesel engine after the first year's models roll off the production line. The hybrid would be a gas sipping 3 cylinder gas/electric hybrid version, set up similarly to Chevrolet's upcoming Volt EV. With this model Tata aims to compete directly with other electric roadsters builders like Tesla and Fisker. Expect the 2013 XE Hybrid to be powered by a lithium ion battery pack, as opposed to today's nickel based energy storage devices. The small displacement motor will act mainly to recharge the batteries which they will run off of most of the time, just like General Motors' Volt. In the Chevrolet Volt's powertrain, dubbed Voltec, a battery provides power to an electric motor which drives the vehicle.  The Voltec system uses a small four-cylinder engine that kicks on to recharge the battery after 40 miles of driving, extending the range of the vehicle.  But the engine can only sustain a certain charge level in the battery - to fully recharge the battery, the vehicle must be plugged in to another power source, like a household outlet.

Driving the XE

The 2013 Jaguar XE will be a fun-to-drive sports car with plenty of power, handling, and speed. With a reported 442lb-ft of torque available (just 19lb-ft less than the supercharged V-8) the XE engine could still deliver sub-six second 0-60mph performance with 35mpg gas mileage.

Summary

Ratan Tata, Jaguar's owner, knows that the future of the company rests on "shiny and new" products. That's why the Jaguar XE roadster was reportedly moved to the front of the line and given a 2013 release date. Tata also understands that cleaner engines are the future of the industry itself, because the XE could also bolster Jaguar's credentials by reportedly including the option of a Volt-like range-extending hybrid drivetrain. At the March 2011 the Geneva show, this newly launched two-seat sports car is likely to be one of the stars of the show. It is clear what Jaguar needs to increase its success, and a sports coupe is certainly part of the answer. The challenge is how to deliver it at a reasonable investment and still make a profit. Visit the Official Jaguar Site for updates on the XE.