Jaguar has reportedly committed to building a replacement for its aging XJ flagship sedan.
The company had mulled retirement for the nameplate, or reimagining it on a higher-riding platform to engage the growing SUV segment, according to Autocar. Executives allegedly decided on another approach, repositioning the XJ as a ‘super-luxury’ sedan.
The current generation has been striding along since 2009, culminating in the 2016 facelift, however it has taken a back seat to the newer aluminum-clad XF sedan. Jaguar design head Ian Callum recently acknowledged that the XF boasts a more spacious cabin, leaving ‘indulgence’ as its primary distinguishing character.
“You need a car like that, something that acts as the bookend for the brand,” he told the UK magazine. “I think we will always have that.”
Aside from opulence, the next-generation XJ is expected to feature Jaguar Land Rover’s latest electrification technologies and multi-material lightweight construction. A V6 hybrid variant could be the focal point in the range, pairing an Ingenium engine with one or more electric motors.
After several years of alleged indecision, the redesigned XJ could still be several years away. The latest report speculates that it could be ready for early 2019 arrival, potentially unveiled in concept form a year earlier.
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