LITTLE MORE THAN a week ago, Jaguar’s chief engineer Mick Mohan admitted that the British luxury marque is exploring a range of new model options, including a more affordable coupe to take on the BMW 3 Series and Audi A5.
Now, according to US site Edmunds, Jaguar is believed to be looking at a five-door version of the coupe project, leaving the three-door idea out all together.
With the X-Type coming to its end this year, Jaguar will have no real contender in the compact premium sedan segment and is understandably eager to develop a vehicle for this market.
Based on the RD6 coupe concept revealed back in 2003, the new coupe - reportedly codenamed RD7 - is expected to be built on a shortened version of the steel body architecture that underpins the XF.
The RD6, powered by a 2.7 litre diesel V6, featured ’suicide’ rear doors and a side-hinged tailgate inspired by the XK-E coupe.
A source at Jaguar has reportedly said that the XE - Jaguar’s oft-rumoured upcoming small convertible - is on track for a 2012 market launch, with the five-door RD7 coupe likely to land a couple of years later.
