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"           A compact sports car to rival Porsche&amp;#039;s Boxster is very much on the want list of Jaguar&amp;#039;s senior management. The challenge is how to deliver it at a reasonable investment and still make a profit.   Initial rumors centered on the concept of a cut-down XK platform, but those seem to be cooling: &amp;quot;The problem with a front-engine car with, say, a V-6, is that you end up with a high bonnet [hood] line, further aggravated by pedestrian impact requirements, that increases the height of the windscreen and the occupant&amp;#039;s H-point [hip-point],&amp;quot; one insider explained, adding, &amp;quot;but if the engine is in the middle, you can lower the height of the car overall.&amp;quot; Above, our artist&amp;#039;s interpretation of what a mid-engine XE could look like.   A timescale is far too early to be talked about just yet, but even if the XE was given the go-ahead by Jaguar management today, the earliest it might appear would be 2012 at a push.   Jaguar&amp;#039;s whole product strategy is under review: &amp;quot;There&amp;#039;s a role for a smaller Jaguar to play,&amp;quot; we were told, specifically to replace the unloved X-Type. &amp;quot;Remember the RD6 concept? Or how about a modern take on the Reliant Scimitar sports hatch,&amp;quot; our source teased us.   Nearer to reality is a smaller diesel (around 2.0-2.2-liters) for the XF, which would give Jaguar a real rival in the European executive sedan market that&amp;#039;s currently dominated by Germany&amp;#039;s big three. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a20258/10-cars-to-watch-for-2013-jaguar-xe/>