Jaguar News: Rumorpile: Jaguar Working On XE-R To Take On BMW M3

[William Maley]

A new BMW M3/M4 is here and the competitors are coming out of the woodwork. Cadillac has shown off the ATS-V; Lexus is selling the RC-F; and Mercedes-Benz has the C63. Now a report from Autocar says Jaguar is working on their entrant.

Sources tell the publication that the hot XE - possibly named XE-R - will use the V8 from F-Type Convertible with 495 horsepower. This will come paired with an eight-speed automatic that will be tuned to deliver more aggressive shifts. Interestingly, sources say the V8 was easier to fit than the current lineup of engines for the XE, including the new Ingenium four-cylinder engine.

No word if Jaguar plans on using any lightweight materials, but the report does say the XE-R will use revised dampers found found on the XE S.

A time frame for this hot XE wasn't given, but a source says it could be awhile since there are more important projects ongoing - such as the F-Pace Crossover.

Source: Autocar

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[G. David Felt]

Interesting, I wonder how many they can really sell to be profitable.

[William Maley]

Interesting, I wonder how many they can really sell to be profitable.

 

I think a Jaguar executive said they don't need to sell a lot to be profitable. But they are also expanding their key products such as the XE and F-Pace.

[smk4565]

They already have the V8, makes sense to put it in the XE.  Funny how BMW dropped the V8 in the M3, then Jag and Mercedes come along with 500 hp V8s for that class.  Also funny how the Lexus V8 makes so little torque, if they could get more power from that engine the IS-F might actually be a contender.