Mercedes-Benz has the soon-to-be renamed CL Coupe and BMW has the 6-Series, two high-end coupes or 'grand tourers' that compete in a relatively exclusive segment--even Audi has the upcoming A7 four-door coupe--so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Jaguar launch a new two-door version of its stunning XJ flagship.
The automaker’s already acknowledged that it's working on hybrid versions of its new aluminum-bodied sedan and during a media gala event at the launch of the 2010 Jaguar XJ, the car’s design director Ian Callum acknowledged that a coupe version was at least in the minds of the British brand's directors.
An XJ Coupe has already been penned, Callum revealed but the chances of the car making production are slim given Jaguar’s current financial situation and scheduled launch of a new XE roadster.
Still, we can at least dream of what a new XJ coupe could like and these latest computer-generated renderings do just that. If the car were given the green light, there’s a chance that it could be on the road by the end of next year in time for the 2012 model year.
A two-door XJ would be the first in the company's lineup since 1978, when it sold the XJC. That car was a short-wheelbase version of the contemporary XJ sedan, and the same philosophy and mechanicals could work with the new car. Jaguar still offers its XK Coupe and Convertible, but moved those vehicles smartly into Porsche 911 territory when it redesigned them in 2007.
