Report: Jaguar working on Porsche Boxster rival
A brand-new baby Jaguar is on the way to take on the industry leading Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK, and BMW Z4. Internally dubbed as the XE, the supposed rival to the Boxster “will blow the rest of the industry away,” said an inside source within Jaguar.
The inside source also said that the idea of a new baby Jaguar convertible was created in the spirit of the 50th year for the original Jaguar E-Type. It will be based on a new all-alumninum platform that will make the XE about 450mm shorter than the top dog XK.
Power will still be delivered to the rear-wheels but there is yet to be any official word regarding what engine would be powering those wheels. Insiders say that V6 engines, both naturally aspirated and supercharged are being favored the most while turbocharged four-cylinders are also in the talks. The transmission will most likely be an eight-speed automatic.
The XE is expected to make a conceptual debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September with a launch excepted sometime in 2012.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar