Jaguar is working on a high performance XE to rival the likes of the M3 from BMW's M division and the C63 from Mercedes-AMG.
The fastest XE in the current range is the XE-S equipped with a supercharged V6, delivering a power output of 335bhp, like on the entry-level F-Type. This could also be joined by a diesel S using the 237bhp, 54.7kgm V6, already seen in the XF.Instead of using the F-type S’s more powerful V6 that would still fall short of the M3's output, the carmaker is expected to use the V8 from the F-Type roadster to create the high-performance XE. That would mean generating 488bhp, enough to reduce the XE’s 0-100kph time down to less than 5 seconds.
Jaguar sources have confirmed to sister publication Autocar UK, that the V8 is actually easier to fit in under the hood of the XE, rather than the more upright Ford-sourced four-cylinder petrol motor and Jaguar Land Rover’s own Ingenium four-cylinder diesel.
The adaptive dampers from the S version will be retuned, giving the modified XE a much more focused chassis set-up and the re-profiled eight-speed ZF automatic transmission will give crisper shifts in the manual mode.
With this, the new XE will fulfill the role of taking on the M3 and the C63 while still allowing for JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations to create its own more hardcore version of the XE. Likely to get the SVR badge, it could use the 542bhp V8 from the F-Type coupe, allowing the fastest XE to take over its German rivals.