New car inspired by this 2003 RD-6 concept
Jaguar is hard at work on an Audi A5 Sportback-style five-door hatch, as well as a host of other new models including the XE sports car and an XF estate.
The new hatchback won't be a budget Jaguar, however. Taking on coupe saloon rivals form Audi and Mercedes means the car will be pitched deep into Jaguar XF price bands, so expect a £40k price tag for the new 'small' Jag.
Powering the new Jaguar fastback will be a range of all-new direct-injection V6 petrol motors and a new 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel.
Expect more modern XJ-esque styling cues
Conceptually the new car is an evolution of the RD-6 concept from 2003 (pictured). The new car is also said to feature Rolls-style 'suicide' rear doors and a side-hinged rear hatch, a homage to the E-type coupe. Expect XJ and XF styling cues, too.
You'll have to wait a while, though - the hatch won't hit showrooms until at least 2014. But that's actually good news, because it means that the Jaguar XE sports car will be out first, finally giving Jaguar a Porsche Boxster rival and a genuine spiritual successor to the E-type.
Based on a shortened version of the XK platform, the car is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2011 - 50 years after the E-type was first revealed. Early examples of the XE should then hit showrooms sometime in 2012.
But that's not all for Jaguar - the company is also busy on an estate version of the XF, and an all-new four-cylinder turbodiesel, the combination of which should give Jaguar a proper head-on shot at the A6, E-class and 5-series.