Jaguar XK might be phased out in the international market

Jaguar has announced that the production of the XK will be stopped by the end of this summer. According to a report in Autocar, the decision has been taken owing to the continuously falling demand for the car with customers opting for the F-Type. Also with the launch of the new F-Type coupe, the sales of the XK stand to be damaged even more.

The report adds that Jaguar wants to concentrate more on the other upcoming models like the new XE saloon and F-Type coupe. A replacement for the XK is also very likely in the future, but it will be a totally different model. As the F-Type has now become Jaguar’s new dedicated sports car, the Coventry-based manufacturer is likely to focus more on the luxury GT segment with the replacement. Jaguar had recently announced the XK lineup with price cuts for the US market, which probably was to clear the existing stock of cars.

The latest iteration of the Jaguar XK was internationally launched way back in 2007 and has grown quite long in the tooth. Though the XK still manages to turn heads, the F-Type edges ahead in terms of sheer beauty and road presence. Despite the difference in the price and positioning of the two cars, the F-Type has been eating into the share of the XK. Sales of the coupé and cabriolet models of the XK have dropped to less than 4,000 units per year with customers opting for the new F-Type. Jaguar has managed to sell only a handful of the XK in last three months of 2013 compared to the 1,000 units it sold in the same period of 2012.

The car is powered by a Ford-sourced 5.0-litre V8 engine, which produces 510bhp and 625Nm of torque. Prices of the XK in India range from Rs 89.47 lakh for the XK-R coupe to Rs 1.27 crore for the top-end convertible. The F-Type range in India starts at Rs 1.22 crore for the recently launched V6 Coupe to Rs 1.82 crore for the V8-powered F-Type R Coupe.