Jaguar XK production to end by mid-2014

One of the most legendary sportscar badges of all time, the Jaguar XK will go out of production after eight successful years. The original Jaguar XKs, made between 1948 and 1961 in three models, the XK120, XK140 and XK150 was finally replaced by the revolutionary E-Type. This time around too, the XK model range is being taken out of production because Jaguar feels the new F-Type provides everything that the XK customer wants and some. Poor sales too have been attributed to the demise of the Jaguar XK with recent sales figures indicating only about 4000 units sold every year.

In India, Jaguar made quite a stir by introducing the XK range, complete with bonkers XKR-S. With a 5.0-litre, supercharged, V8 petrol engine making 550Ps of unadulterated power, the XKR-S is one of the most loved and cherished cars in the automotive journalism community as well as with most car geeks in general. The more subtle XKR too, with the same 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 and a healthy 500 horsepower redefined the way most of us looked at the Jaguar brand. With its elegant and conventional GT proportions, an exhaust note to die for and paramount levels of luxury, the Jaguar XKR was certainly one of those cars we as journalists lusted after.

But, as all good things come to an end and with the staggering F-Type roadster and coupe now in showrooms worldwide, Jaguar feels confident by taking its bread-and-butter GT car off the shelves. We also believe that Jaguar also needs the extra capacity in its factories for its all-new aluminium (iQ-AL) platform based cars, the XE saloon and its new upcoming SUV. Although a replacement for the XK isn’t out of the question, Jaguar states that it is currently on a low priority list. The new XE, followed by a production version of the C-X17 SUV will be the first new cars to roll out of JLR’s new Solihull plant followed by new versions of the Jaguar XF and Jaguar XJ. Although a 2+2 Grand Tourer is certainly a desirable car, Jaguar maintains it will wait till the rest of its core-range is doing well.