Inside Line has learned that Jaguar is working on a compact five-door coupe a la Audi A5 Sportback or BMW 5 Series GT. It's based on the Jaguar XF (pictured) platform architecture.
Codenamed RD7, the Jaguar hatchback has suicide-type rear doors and a side-hinged tailgate as on the beloved XK-E (E-type). Apparently, Jaguar has been considering both three- and five-door versions but has decided to concentrate on the five-door, which the company believes would sell in greater numbers. Under the hood is the 2.7-liter V6 diesel Jaguar introduced in the XF.
Although this project is timely given Audi's and BMW's efforts to create the luxury five-door hatchback segment, our sources suggest that Jaguar's hatch is at least four years from production as the company has limited manpower to push through such a project. A new sportscar, codenamed XE, is likely to precede it; this reborn E-Type would be unveiled sometime in 2011, with a plan to put it on sale in 2012.
dougtheeng says:
08:07 AM, 09/29/09
5 door coupe does not exist!!
firstwagon says:
08:18 AM, 09/29/09
There really doesn't seem to be a fixed definition of a coupe.
Car makers just use it to describe a sportier version of a sedan.
94_gsr_cpe says:
09:03 AM, 09/29/09
suicide rear doors. Seriously?
altimadude00 says:
09:06 AM, 09/29/09
Sounds like things at Jaguar is finally starting to get interesting.
estreka says:
09:36 AM, 09/29/09
I'm surprised Jaguar hasn't jumped on the SUV bandwagon.
rallyandbosox says:
10:07 AM, 09/29/09
If Jaguar goes with a "four-door coupe" like the CLS it makes more sense. The BMW 5-Series GT is not a coupe in any way, it's the ugly inbred child of an SUV and the 5-Series.
fuhteng says:
11:01 AM, 09/29/09
Erin, you know better than that. Coupe means 2 doors. 2 does not equal 5. Therefore Jaguar is working on a wagon or a hatchback.
putachino says:
03:46 PM, 09/29/09
I hope that Jaguar does not try to copy Audi or BMW, especially BMW's new designs that are so choppy. Hopefully they go with the Mercedes CLS and the Volkswagen CC.
P.S. Jaguar doesn't make SUVs because their partner Land Rover makes SUVs.
stephen987 says:
03:57 PM, 09/29/09
Jaguar needs to come up with a better reason to build this than the fact that BMW has one.
firstwagon says:
04:54 PM, 09/29/09
BMW may have one too but EVERYONE has a 4 door sedan with a trunk.
I like the idea of a hatchback version as long as it looks good and would buy one over the trunk model everytime.
Why not make a car more practical as long as there is no downside?