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As we inch toward XE's debut we are slowly but surely being fed morsels of information to keep us all fizzing. However with every morsel comes a new question, lets have a look shall we.

We know the XE will be making use of a new range of four cylinder engines dubbed Ingenium. These engines will be available in naturally aspirated, supercharged and turbocharged format. Also a diesel is to be expected.

What we don't know is in what capacity Jaguars other motors could or would be utilized. The Supercharged 6 will fit under the bonnet and the 8 cylinder from the F-Type is also thought to fit, however where it becomes unclear is if these motors will be locked into XER or XER-S trims.

We know the XE is having its neck rung on the Nurburgring, videos show it looking poised and competent along the gruelling Nordschleife.

What we don't know is how well the Jaguar is progressing on this hallowed motorsports ground, especially in relation to its prime rival the BMW 3 series.

We know Jaguar will not be the price leader in segment, management refuses to discount the price point of the XE to undercut the venerable Teutonic trio. Meaning Jaguar is expecting the XE to offer substantial value over the German saloons.

What we don't know is where the XE will ultimately fall, Jaguar has given no indication nor range which they are targeting.

We know the XE is pegged as the vehicle that will bring Jaguar into the mainstream luxury dogfight between the Germans and Lexus (at least globally). What we don't know is why anyone should consider the XE over well proven offers in segment. Buzz seems to be nascent anywhere outside of the United Kingdom so its been difficult to surmise just exactly how into the XE consumers are.

We know Jaguar has tried their hand in the entry level luxury segment before with the X-Type, we also know it was an unmitigated disaster for a variety of circumstances.

What we don't know is if this time will be any different...

Anything to add?

 

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They are requirements though, so it has to happen. I'm guessing the easiest way to do that is through weight reduction. Do you think that they will be using some more lightweight materials to get the weight down. Perhaps some aluminum, or carbon fiber?

the entire chassis is aluminium, first time for jag...

 

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I get fed up of the X-Type rubbish, jaguar sold over 300,000 X-Types and was its most successful model ever, it is just the same people on the same bandwagon that rehash the same drivel all the time.

There was nothing wrong with the XT, Ford screwed it up by not investing in it properly, they would rather waste £100m on F1 than invest in cars, if anything the S-Type was the bggest dissapointment, as it never reached a break even point at any time in its build, whereas the XT did make a profit for some of its years.

If people actually knew what they were talking about originally, there would never have been this XT fable, we had two, best cars we had, until the XF, and we await the XE.

JLR would never allow this type of talk from its staff like Ford did, they had, and still have little idea on how to biuld a luxury car, they dumped all the good stuff, and since then Jaguar has made billions on profits, Volvo has made money, even Aston posted profits, so it shows Ford didnt have a clue.

The XT is a great car, let down by the bean counters that would not allow extra funds to expand and improve the car throughout its life.

RANT OVER - and breathe........ LOL

X Type had forecasted sales of 100,000 and peaked at ~50,000

In the United States, the car's primary market, sales dropped from 21,542 in 2004 to 10,941 in 2005. In the same year, Audi sold 48,922 A4s, BMW sold 106,950 3 Series' and Mercedes-Benz sold 60,658 C-Class'

Perform that poorly against your chief rivals and yea thats an unmitigated disaster. I'm not saying it was a BAD car, I'm saying as a piece of business it was certainly a disaster.

We've talked about this before, blame Ford all you want but without a Ford then to rescue Jag form the clutches of bankruptcy there IS NO Jaguar today. They needed the cash and took it. Simple as that.

Everything that was ever based on that platform was downright unimpressive sales wise, including the last real Lincoln, the LS...