Rendered speculation: Jaguar XE roadster
It's no secret Jaguar is working on a small roadster dubbed the XE, and according to AutoCar, the design staff at Jaguar are struggling to finalize the look of the BMW Z4-sized drop-top. Apparently, the original plan was to give the XE an oval shaped grille handed down from the old D- and E-types. Now they're leaning toward a shape more like the XF and new XJ. The roadster is planned to be a front engine, rear drive car possibly based on the aluminum chassis of the XK, but part of the problem with finalizing the XE is the future direction of the XK. Some at Jaguar favor growing the XK to compete with the likes of the Maserati Gran Turismo to make room for the XE.
However, if the XK stays the same size, it could be problematic to make room for the XE and make it different. We vote for keeping the XK the same size and creating a smaller XE roadster.
[Source: AutoCar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HotRodzNKustoms 10:10AM (10/01/2009)
Given the chilly reaction they got when they used the oval grille opening on the XK (personally I love it) I can see why they would decide to go with the new corporate face.
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Jei 10:42AM (10/01/2009)
I haven't really "warmed up" to the latest XK oval nose. It reminds me too much of a previous generation Ford Taurus sedan. This rendering is a much better representation of the modern Jag.
Serge 12:50PM (10/01/2009)
I love the oval grille in the current XK... reminds me of old E-types :)
Avinash machado 10:11AM (10/01/2009)
Tata seems to be doing a good job as stewards of Jaguar.
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Rich 2:50PM (10/01/2009)
Yeah, except for that bit about crashed sales and closing one of the two plants, eh?
zthomasz 3:18AM (10/02/2009)
I have a feeling the crashed sales may have something to do with the recession, don't you think? The XF is actually outselling all of its competitors in the UK.
PS
It's a land rover plant that is closing, and it's closing because it is innefficient to have two seperate plants from the same company that are 10 minutes away from eachother.
kbm123 10:18AM (10/01/2009)
I think they're over-using that new corporate grill. The coupes should have their own look.
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Ligor 10:22AM (10/01/2009)
I think that rendering looks better than eve Astom Martin Coupes
If they keep the design as seen here they will have a winner in their hands
Jei 10:45AM (10/01/2009)
I think Tata sees that consumers really like the new Jaguar corporate design language. And they want to spread that across the lineup to really solidify their brand recognition. They're probably thinking about doing the "safe" thing for now, instead of introducing different front facias to shake things up.
yosh 11:53AM (10/01/2009)
You should tell that to Audi.
I'm all for jag's new corporate look, it's excellent. The XF is a beauty and the XJ is jizzworthy inside and out.
Devin 10:25AM (10/01/2009)
Wow, its gorgeous. They should round off some of the sharper edges, but overall, it looks very sexy. Not nearly as hot as an Aston, but I would definitely take one over a Z4.
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raul 10:27AM (10/01/2009)
Manual Please!
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john 10:30AM (10/01/2009)
Do Not make the XK larger!
Do Not make the grill of the XE similar to the XF and XJ! I would much prefer the "oval" grill, if done larger than the current "Tarus/Ford" oval.
Remember, the original E Types and even XKs had grills entirely different than the sedans. I do not want a retro style, but I certainly do want something different and new--just like the great old jags had. It should Not be just a downsizing of the family look! I am and have been ready to buy it for many, many years, but nothing they have made has done it. I have an order in now, but only when I see the actual design will I proceed.
When the original E Type came out, it did not look like anything else on the road or even on the show circuit, and everyone was blow out by it's great looks and performance. Surely, this can be done again Mr Tata! You/Jaguar will most likely only have one chance to do it--so do it right and don't get bogged down by conservative design and nonsense of suttle curves etc that has and is currently being done-we don't need another Asian English import that looks and borrows from everything else.
The current XF, XK, and XJ are all nice, but awesome--I think Not-- more like "Lexas" would be the right term. And not even close to Audi design, innovation, and driving. And I love Jags! So, I want to buy one...but it has to be right.
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john 10:33AM (10/01/2009)
I forgot, it Must have a manual transmission available as an option, or I will NOT buy it! Period.
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Jae 11:22AM (10/01/2009)
Most people that make that statement wouldn't buy it anyways. I hope they offer it in manual as well, but to be honest I probably will never buy it either way. I love the design, but by the time Im willing to drop that type of chunk ill probably have moved on the better things.
Lets stay honest with ourselves is all im saying.
RG 10:46AM (10/01/2009)
I dunno, I think it looks too homely in that picture. Some part of me wants the XE to be a little wilder than the more conservative XK.
Even though this is a blog link, CAR magazine had an article on the next XE with the renderings in the link. Personally I think these look a lot better. More aggressive, more unique, and it even has the center mounted exhaust from the original XKE.
http://futureauto.blogspot.com/2009/09/2013-jaguar-xe.html
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Kaveh 3:43PM (10/01/2009)
I like it, really says Jag.
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Quan 12:59AM (10/02/2009)
Still nice-looking but I preferred the previous rendering where it was essentially a smaller version of the XK. The coupes/roadsters and sedans should have a little more separation stylistically.
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palancar 8:38AM (10/03/2009)
I thought the XK was already close to the size of a Maserati GranTurismo? It's definitely bigger than the Z4. Make the XE compete with the Z4, SLK, etc. and keep the XK where it is.
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