2013 Jaguar XE Preview

For Jaguar fans who have long awaited the opportunity to get behind a sleek, convertible sports car with the name, their wishes are about to come true in late 2012 with the new Jaguar XE. Jaguar’s once parent company, Ford had a concept for a convertible sports car for Jaguar, but dropped the idea due to Jaguar’s continuing losses and Ford’s own problems. Now owned by Tata motors in India, Jaguar is able to afford to take a few risks.

Specifications

Specifications for the all new Jaguar XE are still sketchy and wildly subject to change since the vehicle is still very much in design, but preliminary information indicates the following:

• Pricing: Expected base price around $55,000
• Engine: 3.5-liter V6 that generates 285 horsepower for the base engine.
• Transmission: Rear-wheel drive six speed automated manual transmission.

Exterior Features

The 2013 XE’s exterior is neither made of, nor set in stone just yet. The long-shaped body and tail that you would expect from a Jaguar will be present along with the short deck. The XE will feature a grille similar to what is found in the XJ or the XF, along with the air ducts in the lower front fascia.

Interior Features

The XE will be a roadster that seats two and will undoubtedly feature Jaguar’s highly-anticipated levels of comfort, but expect them to be balanced against the driving performance of the roadster, which means that you will not see an overabundance of weighty additions.

Competition for the 20113 Jaguar XE

Competitors for the new Jaguar XE will include such notables as:

• BMW Z4
• Porsche Boxster

With an asking price of $46,000 base, the BMW Z4 is an amazing vehicle both inside and out with capable handling. The Porsche Boxster has an asking price that is slightly higher and it provides a great ride for the price and an equally smooth interior and exterior design. The XE will be more expensive than both of these cars, and the interior is expected to be a match, but the ride may not quite be up to par.

source : http://www.automobile.com/2013-jaguar-xe-review.html