Jaguar XK Reborn: Ian Callum Says the Brand Needs a 2+2 GT Car

The Jaguar XK has a long and storied history with the brand. The flagship model XK, was a grand touring sports coupe that evolved from the XJ-S. The first XK launched in 1996 and soldiered on until 2014. The luxury grand tourer would carry four people and their luggage across the country very fast. The final model was a fire breathing monster, the XKR-S. Offering 550 horsepower from a supercharged V8 and sold as both a coupe and convertible. Unfortunately, the F-Type stole the show and the aging XK was put out to pasture. So, why is Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum developing the designs for the next generation XK?

AutoCar magazine used some kind of mild torture, probably champagne and oysters, to get the exclusive from Callum. He told Autocar “I want a two-seater [the F-Type] and a 2+2. We’re working on something now. There’s nothing approved, but we instigate in design – that’s what we do.” So, the head of design wants another XK and he is working on it now. It seems Mr. Callum is a bit of a rebel and is trying to push the brand to expand the product line. He says he has “quite different ideas…as to how to carry four people quickly around the world”. This gives us hope as to what kind of design we will see from Callum.

The success of other big GT coupes from Mercedes, the S63 coupe, and BMW, the M6, may give us an idea of the new direction. In 2012, the F-Type and XK were built along side each other and in the future Jaguar could consider this option again. We here at Jaguarforums can’t wait to see this new XK design and what Mr. Callum has up his sleeve in the future of Jaguar.