Jaguar Teases and Names New XE Sedan as BMW 3-Series Rival [w/Video]

It’s now official: Jaguar’s new BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS rival will be called the XE. Set to be revealed in the coming months, the car features an aluminium monocoque construction (the first in the segment) and promises to be the most advanced, efficient and refined in its class.

Power for this new sedan, originally believed to bear the name XS, will come from a new series of UK-built enignes called Ingenium. These petrol or diesel units all displace two liters, they’re all turbocharged and the most frugal of them all promise sub-100 g/km CO2.

Other, more powerful engines will be offered, though, as Jaguar mentioned that the car is designed to achieve speeds in excess of 300 km/h (186 mph), so the BMW M3 and upcoming C-Class AMG had better watch out for the future XER.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar-Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth, mentioned: “We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year.”

Full specs “will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.” It won’t be shown this year in Geneva.

By Andrei Nedelea

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