Battle of the Auto__s: Jaguar supercar rumors refuted
A couple of weeks back we reported on an ongoing debate between British automotive sites Autocar and AutoExpress over the emergence of a new Jaguar sportscar. While the former reported that Jaguar was to supplement the existing XK line with a smaller variant, likely named XE, the latter issued claims that the new model would be positioned above the XK with an engine placed behind. A third source, AutoWeek, has now thrown its hat into the ring, refuting AutoExpress' supercar reports and running instead with Autocar's idea of a smaller sportscar.
According to AutoWeek's man in the UK, rumors of a successor to the XJ220 are purely fantastical speculation, citing unnamed inside sources while noting quite rationally that something closer to the Porsche Boxster would make more business sense than a supercar in the Audi R8 mold. Who'll be vindicated in the Battle of the Auto___s? Time will tell, while here at Autoblog we'll contribute this much: why not build both? Wishful thinking to be sure, but if Jaguar hopes to take on Germany's best, they're going to need a wider range – and a halo car – to do it.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Square Orange 2:12PM (1/27/2009)
Would a small production halo car not do Jaguar some good, especially a modern supercar? Look at what the R8 did for Audi, it garnered alot of attention. Not to mention alot of styling cues from then on came from that base. I like what Audi has done with their cars, theres a level of slight conservatism in their style meanwhile being modern. I think Jaguar has that potential too, I like the new xf/xf-r with the exception of the headlights being a bit strange... but it works for them. In all honesty I would love to see a successor to the XJ220... which will always be a crazy boyhood car :P.
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retsel 2:27PM (1/27/2009)
i am all good and happy with a Boxster Cayman competitor.. the R and RR version will be 911 fighters...
What i want to see is a new XJ and i know this is blasphemy... but what about something like the Enclave for Jag... built on the XJ platform....
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JZeke 2:33PM (1/27/2009)
Oi, trying to tackle the Germans is why Jaguar is in such a sorry mess.
They will not be doing a supercar anytime soon, certainly not one with a mid engine layout. How do I know? Oh this thing called a recession certainly makes a case for it. A supercar doesn't advance a brand anymore, if anything it can weaken it as important engineering know-how is siphoned off more profitable projects. Just look at Ford for an example of how dangerous a supercar project can be.
Do you really think Audi would've made the R8 without ownership of Lamborghini?
Jaguar will do what Jaguar knows how to do: build a sexy 2 seat sports car with the engine up front, as Sir William Lyons intended. Look for game changing sheetmetal, clever use of lightweight materials and quite possibly a diesel.
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CRiccio 2:54PM (1/27/2009)
God the XJ220 is a sexy car...
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LMBVette 3:21PM (1/27/2009)
There was an XJ220 at the Palm Beach Supercar Weekend show this past weekend. I got several pics of it. It was also there last year.
XJ 4:48PM (1/27/2009)
Thank you.
Hike15 5:48PM (1/27/2009)
either way, I'm happy as long as they make a new car
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