Jaguar XE May Get SVR Treatment
Expect 500-horsepower or more from the BMW 3-series challenger.
In a move that many enthusiasts were hoping for, Jaguar may end up building an XE SVR, according to Auto Express. Built by Jaguar Land Rover's in-house performance division—Special Vehicle Operations—it's like the XE SVR will borrow JLR's notoriously crackly 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that makes up to 575-horsepower in some configurations.
Since the XE SVR is rumored to be a dead-on competitor to the BMW M3—which makes between 425 and 444, depending on trim—the British sedan's power plant will likely be closer to the 500hp mark, although we wouldn't be surprised if Jaguar makes a more potent, limited edition model at some point. Mated to the V8 will likely be the outgoing ZF 8-speed automatic JLR has used in most of its lineup.
The XE SVR won't be alone in this special niche in the market; performance sedans are sprouting from a number of manufacturers other than BMW, including the Mercedes-AMG C63, Cadillac ATS-V, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Jaguar's engineers from SVO are apparently already testing the high-performance sedan in Northern Spain, so start saving up now since this kitty ain't gonna be cheap.