Grille - 2010 Jaguar XF 4-door Sedan XF Supercharged

Grille - 2010 Jaguar XF 4-door Sedan XF Supercharged

You can probably forget about a flagship XJ Coupe--apparently Jaguar designer director Ian Callum only penned one for fun and there’s been no serious discussions on it--but a new roadster model positioned below the XK and targeting the likes of the Audi TT, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK is all but confirmed.

While previous reports have suggested that this car would be called the XE, an inside source has revealed to InsideLine that the new model will be called the C-Type and that it has already been given the green light.

Due late next year as a 2012 model, the C-Type will be strictly a two-seater and both coupe and soft-top roadster versions will be offered. It is to feature its own unique aluminum monocoque chassis and naturally aspirated and turbocharged V-6 engines.

This V-6 engine is said to be an all-new design, with engineers essentially lopping off the last two cylinders from the existing AJ-V8 engine. The actual supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 mill is likely to be reserved for a high-performance R model.

Where this leaves the previously reported XE Porsche 911 rival is anyone’s guess but a higher volume and more affordable coupe/roadster is arguably the better route to follow for Jaguar’s next model.

[InsideLine]