- Two-seat coupe with rear-wheel-drive - Range-topper gets 380hp supercharged V6 - KERS-style hybrid for more overtaking power - 300kph top speed, 0-100kph in 4.4sec - On sale late next year, priced from 8 million baht in Thailand
- Wow! Is this the much-rumoured all-new XE?
It could be, given the current badge strategy of Jaguar which includes the XF, XK and XJ. But it hasn't been confirmed yet what Jaguar's new baby coupe{aac} would be called.
For the time being, it is referred to as the C-X16 concept car that will star at the Frankfurt motor show this week. Make no mistake, though: this concept car is very close to production-ready car due next year.
The joystickstyle gear lever replaces the rotary-dial.
- Does it also mark a design philosophy for Jaguar?
Yes it does. And look how gorgeous the C-X16 looks here in the first pictures handed out by Jaguar.
There's a new grille and headlight theme, sexy profile, flashy mag wheels and quad tail pipes.
You may be quick to point out that the C-X16 looks quite Italian with those lights and haunches similar to those in the Ferrari California or Maserati GranTurismo. But hey, if Italian cars are usually hailed for their sexy appearance...
Let's hope that Jaguar won't alter too much on the market-ready car.
Remember what they did with the XF executive car when it was previewed with a handsome mask in the CX concept preceding it? At least, Jaguar gave the concept's lights back to the facelifted XF (yet to arrive on Thai shores).
A KERS-style power button is on the steering wheel.
- Would the XE be the smallest in the current portfolio?
Yes (OK, we'll refer to the C-X16 as the XE for your convenience). The XE measures 4,445mm in overall length and sits on a 2,622mm wheelbase, as it is underpinned by a shortened platform of the one used in its bigger, next-gen XK brother.
The XE would be a strict two-seater making it a true driver's car with rear-wheel-drive and 50:50 front/rear weight distribution. Although Jaguar hasn't mentioned what the XE's body is made of, sources say a similar aluminium chassis as used in the XK is most likely.
The bucket seats could be toned down for more comfort.
- Its performance credentials looks quite good ...
Yes, as mentioned in the summary above. The XE also marks Jaguar's first effort of downsizing to smaller motors.
Previewed here is a 380hp/450Nm 3.0-litre supercharged V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic, a gearbox that first appeared in the XJ and will soon be the norm in all of Jaguar (and Land Rover) cars. There's a new joystick-style gear lever in place of today's rotary-dial setup, although it isn't clear whether Jaguar will adopt the new version for the XE.
The 0-100kph time of 4.4sec is quite respectable _ just 0.1sec slower than Porsche's all-new 911 in 400hp Carrera S form _ while top speed is capped at a high 300kph.
To conform with today's need to reduce emissions and fuel economy, there's an energy regeneration system with stored juice that can be converted KERS-style into overtaking power like in F1 racing cars via a switch on the steering wheel. Now, that's what we call technology transfer from the track to road.
With this hybrid, outputs can be increased by 95hp and 235Nm, so as to explain why the XE takes just 2.1sec to go from 80-110kph.
The C-X16 sits on the shortened wheelbase of next XK.
- Awesome man! How much will this Jag cost?
Naturally, Jaguar isn't discussing prices yet, although the brand is known to be keen in pitching the XE against the Porsche Cayman while also stealing some attention from 911 customers.
We are talking about a starting price of some 8 million baht _ about 4 million lower than the XK _ although the range-topping XE with this 380hp treatment could set you back at least 10 million.
Other engine variants likely to be available are normally aspirated V6, or even a turbo'd four-pot to prevent buyers from going to the jaw-dropping 4C which Alfa Romeo is putting into production next year.
E-type is a great Jag classic.
LOOKING BACK
The E-type first appeared in 1961 and was lauded for its elegant, laid-back profile. Initially, it was designed as a two-seater in either coupe or soft-top roadster form.
A 2+2 later joined the range, although that task today is taken up by the XK. This gives Jaguar a good reason to make the modern-day XE a strict two-seater.
The E-type originally had a 3.8-litre inline-six before growing to 4.2-litre. The Series 3 range got a 5.3-litre V12.
Over 70,000 E-types were made over the model's 14-year-old life cycle and today it remains a hit among Jaguar classic car punters.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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