Jaguar 200mph Supercar Rumours Dismissed, New Entry-Level XE Sportscar More Likely

Britain's Autoweek has rebuked stories that claim that Jaguar is working on a 200mph-plus supercar in the mould of the old XJ220. According to AutoWeek, these claims are nothing more than a pie in the sky that will probably never be reached. Instead Jaguar is said to be readying a smaller sports car to be badged the XE.

We know the name XE will feature in Jaguar's future plans because it was patented as C-XE along with C-XJ. Normally the people running the British luxury brand prefix the ultimate car's name with a C when the car first debuts in public as a concept. The 2007 C-XF Concept for instance later became the production XF. Pictures used are those of a rendered XF-based roadster from the WCF files.
Read Article

BlakuraTLS - 1/27/2009 4:12:05 PM

+1 Boost

Looks interesting enough, could be a hit with the right engine, stats, and price; a miss if they fail in any of those categories.

fatandsassy - 1/27/2009 4:34:26 PM

0 Boost

GGGGGGRRRRRRRR.... you can hear this Big Cat sitting still.......\
Love the front

downtoearth - 1/27/2009 6:01:33 PM

+2 Boost

You can rather see the Big Cat crapping into a litter tray. They last car Jaguar needs now is an overpriced sportscar. You just don't make any serious money on such things.

downtoearth - 1/29/2009 10:43:33 AM

+1 Boost

True true, I misread the news. Jaguar does not need a supercar but a good-value small sports car would serve them just fine. And yes, since they're owned by Indians who just crap money (because world is now made in China and India), Jaguar can afford a lot now.

BlakuraTLS - 1/27/2009 4:45:30 PM

+1 Boost

I'm talking about the pic in the actual article not the one above.

Hachee2001 - 1/28/2009 9:58:59 AM

+1 Boost

^ I think the chances that Jaguar will have a real volume car in the forseeable future are very slim. They didn't do it with the X-Type, they didn't do it with the S-Type, and as well-received as the XF is, it's just not going to do the volume. The only way I really see them surviving is by bringing out incredibly special cars - cars that are breathtakingly beautiful, and truly luxurious. They need to be able to price the cars high, limit supply, and make some decent profit per vehicle. The cars need to be seen as alternatives to the mainstream competitition. They won't succeed in trying to make mainstream cars themselves.

As for the supercar, now is not the time, and that rendering sucks. Remove the oval grille and cat's eye lights, and it could be anything. Generic mid-engine supercar design. Not even close to an XJ220.

THESCOOTER - 1/28/2009 10:46:27 AM

+1 Boost

This is hilarious. History repeats itself for these guys. Maybe Tata should review the work-up and business case that was compiled for X-Type vs F-Type about 10 years ago to see where that direction moved the brand in terms of product and image. This is a huge mistake. Jaguar is a purely emotional brand something that Audi or Infiniti would kill for. Those brands are driven by great product respectively but have limited emotional leverage with consumers, while Jaguar is the complete opposite. It has the image and brand cache but has recently lacked the product to complement the intangibles offered. Creating an entry level Jaguar is a TERRIBLE idea unless it is a Boxster-esque roadster that services a high emotional quotient and not a 4-snore sedan that no one is asking for. Tata needs to look beyond share and volume to profitability and think about the larger effect of an 'entry' vehicle for an aspirational brand -- in my opinion XF is a great entry level Jaguar.

Htay7500 - 1/28/2009 11:49:54 AM

+1 Boost

Jaguar has a bright future for themselves.

Hachee2001 - 1/28/2009 2:39:37 PM

+1 Boost

^ delusional.

I have always loved Jags, but they've struggled for decades and I don't see anything different in the future.