Jaguar has set its sights on the Audi R8 and has decided to turn a new version of the XJ220 into a supercar to rival it.
[Image is of the old XJ220]
The new supercar, which may go by the name XE, is a two-seater with an all-aluminum chassis. On top of that, there'll be aluminum paneling along with alloy and composite parts to make up the body. Weight being a prime consideration. The car was reportedly styled by a team of designers headed by Ian Callum, Jaguar's Director of Design.
Under the rear, glass-paneled bonnet, will likely come some modified version of the 5.0 liter supercharged V8, which was last seen sporting 503 hp in the recently unveiled XFR. The XE should boogie to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds, that is, if it is to be competitive with supercars such as the R8. Top speed will be in the range of 200 mph (320 km/h) or more as the recent pre-showroom spec XFR itself recently topped out at 225 mph.
The car will have a wide straddle at the rear with buttressed C-pillars, as with its competitors in this segment the Ferrari 599 GTB and, of course, the R8.
Jaguar has denied that it is working on such a car.
This scoop comes courtesy of our brethren at Autoexpress. Please visit their source link below to see rendered illustrations of the XE.
As an aside, the bonnet is always at the front of the car, never at the back.