Rumormill: Jaguar working on all-new five-door "coupe"
2003 Jaguar R-D6 Concept
We're not exactly sure when this trend will end, but it now looks like Jaguar is preparing to join the five-door coupe club. Inside Line is reporting that a compact hatch, similar to Audi's new A5 Sportback, is in the works. An evolution of the R-D6 concept first shown back way in 2003, it is being called the RD7, and will feature rear suicide doors and an E-Type aping side-hinged rear hatch. Now that's one heritage element that would definitely look cool, but might not be too practical – we'll have to reserve judgment until we see the final product.
As Jaguar's X-Type is finally being phased out overseas, the logic is that the Gaydon firm needs an entry-level model to compete in the compact premium segment. Apparently Jag is considering both a three-door and a five-door version of this X-Type replacement, which would most likely be built on a slimmed down XF platform. Power is rumored to come from a 2.7-liter diesel V6.
Whatever the final form of the RD7, we'll have to wait a while to see it in showrooms. Next up for Jaguar is the spiritual successor to the XK-E, which is expected some time in 2011, the 50th anniversary of the original E-Type. Cash coming in from the popular XF and the recently revealed full-size XJ might help speed things up a bit, too.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sea Urchin 4:27PM (9/30/2009)
Now that looks HOT. Who said that fuel efficient cars need to be ugly and boring?
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Yaroukh 5:03PM (9/30/2009)
Jaguar
Taglane 5:14PM (9/30/2009)
lmfaooo
AC 5:55PM (9/30/2009)
go to Insideline Website and check out the front of the car....
LOL !!!! freaking ugly.
UberSil 9:49PM (9/30/2009)
The fact that you just called a station wagon beautiful deserves a slap across your face. People! Don't be fooled by the Germans!!! Five doors equals stationwagon!!! Ooooogly!
Alex 9:59PM (9/30/2009)
you are all nuts, wagons, 5-door coupes, whatever they want to call them are awesome. Great aerodynamics, good weight balance, excellent interior capacity. I could go on for days. The best car I ever owned was a Subaru Legacy GT wagon and I am saving up for a Mazda Speed3. Fun to drive, great every day utility.
The Jaguar RD6 was a gorgeous concept and I think it could make for an excellent competitor in the entry segment as it will have a distinctiveness that the other luxury marques won't have at the table. Sadly with just a diesel v6 as an engine option, I doubt it'll come state-side but i'll be sending my letters of interest to Jaguar.
RG 4:30PM (9/30/2009)
Steady Jaguar... you are slowly winning back respect with your sedans, don't jump the shark until you have a solid foundation to stand on.
Also, I wanna learn more about this XK-E. I bet it is sexy as hell.
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Bartmack 4:34PM (9/30/2009)
This is probably my favorite concept car in a long, long time... (excepting the recent Audi A7 study that wasn't even done by Audi) I'm all for a premium, rear wheel drive, performance oriented shooting brake style sports car- especially if they have the balls to actually produce it with suicide doors. Though in form it may be similar to an A3, the A3 is a snoozer to look at. This has the sex appeal that a Jag should have. I dig it.
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Aeromax 4:39PM (9/30/2009)
Blegh.
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rooster 5:50PM (9/30/2009)
I second that...though it does bring a song to mind...my humps, my humps...
Plus, coupe? Shooting brake, hatchback maybe. It's closer to station wagon than coupe.
John H. 4:48PM (9/30/2009)
Ugh. Where's the tail of the car?
Once upon a time, Jaguar made a handsome car.
This isn't it.
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Ben Roethig 4:49PM (9/30/2009)
Wow, that's ugly. Perfect for Europe though.
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Hike15 4:54PM (9/30/2009)
we need to come up with a new word to replace what used to be a coupe....i suggest due porte...
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homunculus 4:55PM (9/30/2009)
that 2003 concept looked very british. i doubt the new version will look anything like it.
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Yaroukh 5:04PM (9/30/2009)
who did this!!!?
:Q
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Taglane 5:15PM (9/30/2009)
EW. goddamn! What is this??
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Brex 5:28PM (9/30/2009)
I wish all automotive publications would simply ban the terms "four-door coupe" and "five-door coupe". No matter what an automotive manufacturer calls their car, the rags would just say "No!"
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P.V. 6:05PM (9/30/2009)
The idea sounds nice at first, but then what is the XF?
Are they going to make some sort of sleek shooting brake? THAT would be COOL!
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Rich 7:03PM (9/30/2009)
Ah, I see. A dig a Mazda for aping their design.
Ah, but Jaguar, you sillies, you weren't using it.
And can you ever use it again, in updated form, without being accused of aping the RX-8?
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zthomasz 10:12PM (9/30/2009)
Jaguar did ape it from mazda. It used exactly the same tecnology, borrowed from mazda because of the relationship that both companies then had with ford. That is precisely why it will NOT have suicide doors. It can't steal the technology from mazda AND it would be too expensive AND it would limit the amount of space in the back.
Most other websites have correctly reported that it will not have either suicide doors nor a side-hinged trunk.