Jaguar XE SVR to get 489bhp V8 to take on the BMW M3

The new Jaguar XE is nearly here, and it looks like the range-topping XE SVR will come with a 489bhp Supercharged V8 to bash the BMW M3.

The new Jaguar XE – Jaguar’s rival for the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class – is set to be revealed in a few weeks in London, and it’ll be the frugal XEs with the new Ingenium engines that’ll make up the bulk of sales.

But, just as BMW do with the M3 and Mercedes with the C63 AMG, Jaguar will want a headline performance model that matches – or, preferably, surprasses – what the German premium makers have to offer, and that looks set to be a Jaguar XE SVR now Jaguar has made it clear the SVR models will be the pinnacle of performance for the range.

Auto Express are declaring (or guessing – take your pick) that a new Jaguar XE SVR will come with Jaguar’s 5.0 litre V8 Supercharged engine sporting the same output as the F-Type V8 Roadster – 489bhp – and be able to get to 60mph in around 4.0 seconds.

Of course, an XE SVR will also mean the usual bigger wheels and brakes, body kit, bigger air intakes and titivation of the interior.

If the prediction is right, the XE promises to be quicker and more powerful than either the C63 AMG or M3 and, if Jaguar has the rest of the XE right, could be a real challenger.

But we’ll probably have to wait until later in 2015 before we see sight of the XE SVR; Jaguar will concentrate on getting the XE out in volume models, we assume, before they turn their attention to a range-topping BMW M3 basher.