Imagine the task that lies before Jaguar Motor Company: They must find a way to take on the Porsche 911, head-to-head so to speak. They know the venerable XK won’t be able to handle the competition because it is too big and heavy, so what to do?
The answer is the all new Jaguar XE, due out in 2013, most likely in the summer. There is a lot of secrecy concerning the XE, but some things we can surmise from industry rumor and past trends by Jaguar.
We can expect much of the XE body to be made up of aluminum to make it lighter and faster in response. We can expect a turbo V6 engine, but we are also guessing that an option will be a 5.0-liter V8, and that sucker will be FAST!
We can expect a six or seven speed automatic transmission, most likely dual-clutch with paddle shifters, but we also expect a six speed manual as an option. As for price, we expect it to come in around $55,000, which will put it between the prices of the Porsche Cayman and the Porsche 911.
Other than that, we can’t say much. If this is engineered by Jaguar, then we can expect an ultra-quiet ride with hardly any engine noise, and we can expect great upholstery and a regal feel to the ride. Most importantly, we can expect the XE to ride like a dream, steer like a go-cart, and be faster than a cheetah with its tail on fire. We have no doubt the stereo system will be of high quality, and we have no doubt that safety features like anti-lock disc brakes and full airbags will also be standard.
As for replacement parts, anyone can tell you that Jag replacement parts are expensive. Go to an auto parts store or a dealership and you can expect to dip into the kid’s college fund if you need something like a fuel pump for your XE. Unless, of course, you choose to shop at a quality salvage yard. In that case, you will find used parts at huge savings, and each part has a warranty.
A word to the wise: for quality used parts, go to All Import Auto Parts, the best Fort Worth salvage yard in the area. Where else will you find great customer service and recycled auto parts so cheap it seems like they are almost free?