Tata Approves XF Coupe, Convertible

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Having stretched itself a bit thin buying up British luxury icons Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors is working with what it has to get the revenue flowing. For those of you who haven’t checked out Jaguar’s portfolio recently, that means the XF. Specifically, Autoexpress reports that Tata has approved coupe and convertible versions of the sleek sedan for production. The coupe will target Audi’s A5, with the tight greenhouse and high-waistlined styling that large coupe buyers have come to expect. And with a price target set under the XF sedan’s $50k msrp, it will also be the ground floor for XF ownership. The convertible should top the XF range, but it won’t have the usual astronomical convertible premium. Well, at least not enough to bump up against the XK’s $80k sticker. The drop-top will sport a traditional folding cloth roof, and a shortened wheelbase for improved body rigidity. Engine choices will be unchanged, although the XFR’s supercharged 5.0 V8 could become an option when the coupe and convertible versions drop in 2010. Autoexpress is also reporting on the long-rumored F-type sportscar, supposedly aimed at Porsche’s Boxster/Cayman duo. If things go well, the F-type could be coming in 2012 based on a cut-down version of the next-generation XJ all-aluminum platform and sporting V8 power. Sounds good, but we’re not exactly holding our breath for this. Let’s see how the XF-stretching goes first.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Blowfish Blowfish on Nov 20, 2008

    Is kind of wong timing, if it had been a couple of yrs earlier it would have helped. Hope the Indians can survive all these turmoils.

  • Areitu Areitu on Nov 20, 2008

    The F-Type concept looked great. Let's hope the actual production car isn't obviously badge engineered. http://www.ritzsite.net/RAI01CON/Jaguar_F-type_2000_f3q.JPG

  • Billc83 Billc83 on Nov 20, 2008

    ...and thus the XF becomes Jaguar's CTS. But seriously, how is that F-Type not in production? It's downright gorgeous - notably better than the current XK.

  • Johnster Johnster on Nov 20, 2008
    sitting@home : Sweet, I used to like the XJ coupe in the 70’s, until I found out it was a factory chop job and the vinyl roof was there to cover up the bad weld line. Really? I liked them too. What a disappointment. I remember when Jaguar advertised the XJ coupe as "The Corporate Sports Car." And a car magazine relabeled it "The Corpulent Sports Car."
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