Scoop: This is Jaguar's New XE Compact Executive Saloon

Ladies and gents, meet the first actual prototype of the upcoming Jaguar XE sports saloon. We’ve seen test mules before, but this is the real thing, albeit with what we believe to be a little bit of trickery on the behalf of Jaguar’s engineers who appear to have stuck a fake roof spoiler and C-pillar trims on the car.

We say this because, both sections are absent from the official skeleton pictures of the XE that were released by Jaguar together with a rendered image of the car’s finished front end, precisely one week ago.

The actual production XE will combine a stubby rear deck featuring an integrated spoiler lip with a steeply raked, almost fastback-style rear windshield, while the front will resemble that of the XF, but with the lights and grille set lower to the ground for a more aggressive, feline-like appearance.

In regards to the styling, Jaguar design boss, Ian Callum, recently said: “The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar; more compact in size but visually striking. Customers will expect a great deal from a mid-size Jaguar – it must be practical but premium.  We never forget we are designing a Jaguar and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we’ve done just that with the Jaguar XE.”

Beneath the camouflaged body is Jaguar’s newly developed iQ[Al] aluminum platform that was previewed on the C-X17 Sports Crossover Concept last year, which has yet to be signed off for production. The British brand has said that the XE will be the “first aluminum monocoque vehicle in the segment”, with the structure offering “lightness and stiffness for unbeatable handling, performance, refinement and efficiency”.

Also making its debut on the XE is Jaguar-Land Rover’s new generation of high-output four-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines named “Ingenium”, which will be manufactured at the company’s new factory in Wolverhampton.

In its most recent release, Jaguar said that the new engines will be “both efficient and powerful – including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km”, adding that they have been designed to “suit in-line and transverse installations for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations”.

The British automaker plans to release further details, and possibly photos of the new XE later this year, before the car begins its global rollout in showrooms during the first half of 2015, to battle the likes of the Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and Lexus IS.

By John Halas

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

PHOTO GALLERY