JAGUAR has announced its new saloon, which is set to rival the BMW 3 Series and be launched in 2015, will be called the Jaguar XE.
The mid-sized saloon will be the first aluminium monocoque product in the segment and Jaguar has pledged to deliver “the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class”.
The new saloon will feature new advanced aluminium architecture showcased for the first time in the C-X17 concept car at last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show and will be built at a purpose-built new production facility at Land Rover’s Solihull plant.
The car will also be the first to feature a family of new high-performance but fuel-efficient 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines that Jaguar has revealed will be called Ingenium.
The engines, which will deliver top speeds of more than 186mph yet emit less than 100 g/km of CO2, will be built at JLR’s new engine plant near Wolverhampton.
Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show Dr Ralf Speth, JLR’s CEO said: “We announced just a few weeks ago that our new engine manufacturing centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units.
“The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year.”
Kevin Stride, Jaguar’s vehicle line director for XE, said: “The engineering development of the XE has focused on delivering customers with the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved.”
Speaking about the design of the XE, Jaguar’s director of design Ian Callum added: “We never forget we are designing a Jaguar and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we’ve done just that with the Jaguar XE.”
