When Jaguar launched the original X-Type back in 2001, industry punters denounced it as just a tarted-up Ford Mondeo wearing ‘shrunken’ Jaguar XJ clothing. Fact is, even though it wasn’t a bad drive (handling benefited from Ford’s underpinnings), it just missed the mark in an segment dominated by BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Fast forward to 2014, and the Coventry luxury carmaker thinks it has the goods to re-enter the segment, but does it? We take an illustrated preview prior to its full official reveal.

After seeing the teaser image at the Geneva Motor Show, it was of little doubt that Jag would stray from its current design formula. However, upon analyzing countless spy photographs, it appears they’ve shrunken the XF into mid-size format.

Oh dear, you might say? - it’s actually not a bad thing. Sure, it doesn’t have the uniqueness of the larger XJ saloon, but it does successfully differentiate in the details.

For example, the dominant XJ-like grille is wider, more upright than the XF’s, and those front fenders now have upward creases to help emphasize an aggressive front end. Its hood sculpting is nothing radical, but the trailing edge now intersects lower on the A-pillars for a ‘cleaner’ look.

The side profile will also be familiar for Jaguarphiles - the coupe-like silhouette appears a fraction more upright than its larger brother. Svelte C-pillars feature chrome-work and a more conventional Hofmeister Kink - similar to that on BMW’s 5-Series. In comparison, the XF’s kink is sleeker in radius, curving down and forwards onto the rear window sills.

Atmosphere inside the cabin is expected to be of familiar Jaguar ilk, yet more contemporary in design. Think less XF in this area, but rather a mix of F-type and XJ. Encompassing the interior will be Jaguar’s all-new aluminium framework, which will positively assist in weight reduction targets, improved handling, performance and fuel economy.

In terms of powertrains, the XE is expected to feature various options. From petrol and diesel 2.0-litre four’s, a V6, and potentially an ballistic, claws-out supercharged six or V8 ‘XE-R’ version.

Opponent-wise, going back into compact executive sedan territory will be a tough battle for the British marque; fierce competition will come from Mercedes-Benz’s new C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS and Audi’s A4. Expect an official reveal later this year and an on-sale date of 2015.

Overall it has all the ingredients to be a fantastic offering, but has Jaguar followed the opposition’s ‘same sausage, different size’ philosophy too soon? We will see. However until then, what do you think of Coventry’s new cat?

Tell us your positive thoughts or criticisms in the comments below.

Should be introduced later this year

The 2015 Jaguar XE has been spied getting dropped off at the company's Nürburgring testing facility.

While our spies were only able to snap a few pictures, the photos reveal the model will have a rectangular grille, slender headlights and mesh grille inserts. We can also see a dual exhaust system and what appears to be a roof-mounted spoiler but that could just be some clever camouflage tricky.

The XE will ride on Jaguar's new iQ[Al] platform and feature a variety of four-cylinder Ingenium engines that will be available in a "wide range of capacities and outputs, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies without sacrificing drivability." Jaguar has also confirmed the model will be offered with a 3.0-liter V6 from the F-Type.

The production model is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, before being launched in mid-2015.

Anticipation for the new Jaguar XE premium compact sedan is already running high, but it's about to reach fever pitch as the British firm kicked off a new promotional effort that will eventually lead to the world premiere of the car later this year, believed to take place at the Paris Motor Show in October.

As a taster, Jaguar served up an official photo of the car wearing a body wrap that gives us an x-ray style view of the car's aluminum structure. Evidently, more images of the XE will follow over the coming weeks and months, each showing different aspects of the sedan model.

Just recently, we learned that aside from a new generation of four-cylinder turbocharged engines marketed under the ‘Ingenium’ name, the XE will also be offered with the F-Type's 3.0-liter Supercharged V6, which is available in two states of tune, delivering 335hp (340PS / 250kW) and 375hp (380PS / 280kW).

Sales of the new Jaguar XE that will bring on the fight to the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS and Mercedes C-Class, will begin early next year.

Will battle the BMW 3-Series & Mercedes C-Class

The 2015 Jaguar XE is inching closer to production as our spies have snapped some new photos of the model undergoing testing on the Nürburgring.

Set to be introduced later this year, the entry-level sedan has a familiar front fascia with a rectangular grille and swoopy headlights. Additional details are hard to make out but we see an angled beltline, a dual exhaust system and a small trunk with an integrated rear spoiler.

Jaguar is keeping a tight lid on details but the car will ride on the new iQ[Al] platform and feature a variety of Ingenium four-cylinder engines that will be available in a "wide range of capacities and outputs." The XE will also be offered with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that will likely produce 340 bhp (253 kW) or 380 bhp (283 kW).

Whilst Jaguar's marketing team is gearing up for the motor show reveal of the new XE in Paris this October, the British firm's engineers are out on the Nürburgring fine tuning the compact executive sedan that will launch at a Jaguar showroom near you in early 2015.

This particular prototype is powered by the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 found on other Jaguar models like the F-Type series, in which it is offered with two outputs at 335hp (340PS / 250kW) and 375hp (380PS / 280kW).

At the lower end of the range, the XE will offer a new range of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, while on the other end, there has been talk about the use of a supercharged V8 for the XE R and XE R-S high-performance versions.

The engines sit on Jaguar's new rear and all-wheel-drive aluminum architecture that should help keep the weight in check compared to rivals BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

One thing you should keep in mind about these XE testers is that, the British automaker's engineers craftily added a Skoda Superb-like camouflage wrap to the C-pillar and rear window; the actual production car is believed to have a raked rear screen leading to a stubby boot.

Depending on how it is received in the market, the XE series could evolve into an entire range of models, including an estate and a coupe.

While the more mundane versions of the upcoming Jaguar XE (Mercedes C-Class rival) will all be powered by efficient, downsized, turbocharged four-cylinder engines, there will be those versions aimed at enthusiasts too. A supercharged V6 is definitely coming, and you can see it and hear it in the video posted below, courtesy of TuriClips.

Recently spotted tested around the ring, the heavily camouflaged XE prototypes howl quite similarly to the F-Type six-pot, so it may very well be a plain case of power plant carryover. If that’s so, then the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 unit could make either 335hp or 375hp, depending on state of tune.

This might not be the top of the range performance model that we’re seeing because we've heard Jaguar may stuff a V8 under its hood to compete with the M3. Being a relative newcomer, it may even be made more powerful, to make for a nice headline when it is tested and compared…

Will do more than 186 mph

Jaguar is allegedly working on a range-topping version of the 2015 XE powered by a V8 engine.
Riding on an all-new iQ[Al] platform, Jaguar's highly anticipated XE sedan aims to end the German dominance in this segment and they want to battle BMW's M, Audi's RS and Mercedes-Benz's AMG with a very hot version called XER-S. The British marque has already confirmed the F-Type's V6 3.0-liter supercharged engine will be offered in the XE but it seems Jaguar is also cooking up a V8-powered version.

According to a report issued by Auto Express, the motor will be capable of delivering 542 bhp (404 kW), a power figure which matches that of the 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine inside the F-Type R Coupe. Thanks to this engine, the range-topping Jaguar XE will be able to hit a top speed of more than 186 mph (300 km/h).

The regular XE will be revealed in the months to come before going on sale in 2015 so the XER-S will likely see the light of day in 2016, following the introduction of lesser S and RS derivatives.