JAGUAR IS READYING ITS second aluminum-bodied model—the replacement for the XK coupe and convertible. A 400-plus-horsepower XKR will be the flagship of the all-new lineup when it goes on sale in early 2006.

Final production approval for the luxury grand touring 2+2 coupe, dubbed project X150, is due later this summer once the Ford-owned British automaker resolves an internal debate over two different looks for the car.

Two camps have developed in the company—one supporting a radical twin-headlight “face” inspired by the 2001 Frankfurt show Concept R, and a second, more conservative proposal with one-piece headlights favored by Ford chief Nick Scheele. Today’s hallmark E-Type-inspired oval grille will continue.

The new XK will run on the same wheelbase as today’s car, but will likely have a higher ground clearance to help it avoid scrapes on dips and bumps, and will be taller to meet bumper height standards in some markets. Two body styles will be offered, with the convertible sticking with a folding canvas roof for cost and weight reasons.

The radical switch to alloy is challenging Jag’s engineers a little more than expected. The car was planned as a straightforward platform variant of the rivet-bonded XJ sedan, but engineers are struggling to get sufficient body stiffness in a convertible while still using the material and bonding process. So far, the likely solution will be adding more steel to the XK.

Powertrains and suspension will be borrowed from the XJ. The XKR will feature a supercharged 4.2-liter V8, with other models offering a 300-hp 4.2-liter V8 and possibly a 260-hp 3.5-liter entry-level V8. Jag is also considering a 500-hp XKR-R for 2008 or 2009.

...the new XJ features the first volume production use of rivet-bonded joining technology for its complete body structure. It's a similar process to the way an aircraft's fuselage and wings are built. Self-piercing rivets are used in combination with aerospace-sourced epoxy adhesive to join the aluminium pressings, castings and extrusions, and to create the super-stiff structure

Originally posted by Crazy Sellout
When does the redesign come?

Originally posted by Crazy Sellout
When does the redesign come?

Originally posted by shaHn78
Ehh... the XJ was a huge dissappointed cos it looked EXACTLY the same as before even after it was "redesigned" recently and this thing doesnt look much different.

Here's a 04 which looks just as good if not better imo

Originally posted by shaHn78
Ehh... the XJ was a huge dissappointed cos it looked EXACTLY the same as before even after it was "redesigned" recently and this thing doesnt look much different.

Here's a 04 which looks just as good if not better imo

Originally posted by shaHn78
Ehh... the XJ was a huge dissappointed cos it looked EXACTLY the same as before even after it was "redesigned" recently and this thing doesnt look much different.

The spirit of Jaguar's E-Type is back! This cool new Cat is ready to pounce, and Auto Express magazine has the first exclusive pictures. It takes its inspiration from the Sixties sports car legend, and the company is applying the final touches ahead of the model's debut as an XK-badged concept at January's Detroit Motor Show.

Featuring an aggressive, muscular look, a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs, the two-seater will replace the current XK when it reaches showrooms early in 2006.
Quad headlamps, huge 21-inch wheels and a more spacious cabin are all on the agenda, as are new side vents and a lightweight body. It's not all change, though. Unlike the Mercedes SL and forthcoming Maserati coupé cabriolet, the XK will not have a folding metal roof. Instead, two distinct models will be offered: a roadster and a coupé.

But that's where the link with the current range ends. To keep up with rivals, Jaguar is reported to be developing a radical new XK family to include a Mercedes AMG-bashing XK-RR and an affordable six-cylinder variant. All versions will be based on a lightweight aluminium chassis, and built at the company's Brown's Lane factory in the West Midlands.

The XK shares technology that underpins the acclaimed new XJ, and sources revealed that building the chassis has been a demanding technical challenge. The sheet aluminium system has been tough to work with, but engineers are now confident the set-up has been perfected. This is thanks to hundreds of miles of testing conducted in a specially designed XJ-based prototype.

News of a six-cylinder engine is a shock, particularly as rumours suggest it will be a 3.0-litre straight-six. Because of Jaguar's reliance on the current 3.0-litre V6, it was thought the firm's long relationship with the famous XK-based straight-six had ended in 1997. Our sources have said the unit will be produced at the firm's Bridgend plant in 2006 - and could appear in a less expensive model to rival the Mercedes SL350.

Higher up in the range, Jaguar's 4.2-litre and supercharged V8s will feature, promising outputs of up to 450bhp. With the lighter bodywork, the modest increase in power is certain to enhance performance. The 0-60mph sprint time is likely to drop below five seconds, while the car could reach a top speed in excess of 190mph. But it's not all about engineering. Bosses want the XK to be a class leader in terms of style, so a more modern look is promised.

The facelifted S-Type and daring Concept Eight offer clues on cabin design, with aluminium and leather featuring throughout. New bucket seats, up-to-date communications, plus touch-screen sat-nav, audio and air-con, are also set to feature.

Safety will be upgraded, too. The coupé is tipped to boast all-round airbags, while the traction control and braking will be improved. Al-though diesel editions of the Merc- edes SL and petrol hybrid versions of the Lexus SC430 are rumoured to be on the way, Jaguar is sticking to unleaded units for now. However, with a new 4.0-litre V8 diesel under development and pencilled in for launch in 2006, that could change.

One thing is certain, though - a new six-cylinder XK makes Jag's sportster more accessible than ever before. And with prices starting from Ł40,000, the car is sure to be a hit.

Originally posted by Crazy Sellout

These are the first spy pictures of the new Jaguar aluminium-bodied sports coupe that will replace the current XK Series in 2006. The new coupe and convertible models are expected to debut in autumn 2005, or early in 2006 as 2006 models.

Codenamed X150, the completely redesigned 2+2-seaters are based on the drivetrain, platform, and rivet-bonded aluminum body design of the latest XJ Series sedans. As a result, the first prototype shown here hides its new XK internals under a cut-and-shut Jaguar XJ body.

The new chassis will in fact have a wheelbase that's ten inches shorter than the XJ. The wide track and lack of rear doors are the best clues to the new XK's identity. While it's difficult to draw any firm conclusions on the exterior styling of the new XK, the proportions of this first prototype are representative. The computer-generated illustration accompanying the spy shots is an interpretation of how the X150 may develop, based on concepts shown by Jaguar, such as the R-D6 concept and the F-Type. There is no confirmation that the "fake" rear doors on the prototype indicate a set of rear-hinged doors for the new sports car.

Earlier this year, Jaguar confirmed the X150 project and announced that it will be built along with the XJ in itsBrowns Lane factory in Coventry, U.K. The normally aspirated (XK) and supercharged (XKR) V-8 engines and a six-speed ZF automatic transmission will be adapted from the XJ saloon cars, but specially tuned for duty in the lighter and sportier coupe/convertible XK. No