Jaguar will turn the XJ into an electric sedan rivaling the
Tesla Model S, according to Autocar which
on Monday reported that an electric XJ will be revealed in late 2018 to mark
this year's 50th anniversary of the nameplate. Sales are said to follow in
2019.
And it won't just be the powertrain that will reportedly be
changing. Autocar also reports that the flagship sedan will become
more of a hatch than a traditional sedan, something akin to the Porsche
Panamera and aforementioned Model S.
Jaguar had been debating whether to return to a more
conventional 3-box sedan shape for its next-generation XJ or stick with
the current model's coupe-like design.
The automaker at one point was even thought to be going with two
distinct body styles for the car.
It seems that Jaguar will now focus on a coupe-like design,
which is probably a good move as the design will help further distinguish the
car from its German rivals. And going the electric route should also keep the
car relevant in a segment that's seeing buyers switch to SUVs.
But what about those buyers, especially in China, looking
for a roomier option in a flagship sedan? That's where sister company Land
Rover will apparently fill the void. The new “Road
Rover” model that we heard about last fall will reportedly be
developed alongside the electric XJ, and this one should be roomier as it will
be something of a blend between a sedan and SUV.
Jaguar already has the powertrain technology for electric
cars. The automaker will start selling its I-Pace later
this year. At launch, the small electric SUV will feature a 90-kilowatt-hour
lithium-ion battery and a twin-motor drive system delivering a combined 400
horsepower, and its range should be about 220 miles. Given the modular nature
of the powertrain's design, utilizing it for a future XJ shouldn't prove too
much of a challenge.
source: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1023091_report-jaguar-xj-to-transform-into-tesla-model-s-rival
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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