Jaguar gives XK coupe the bullet

Jaguar has confirmed that it will wind down production of its big XK 2+2 coupe this summer. The XK, which has been in production since 2006, has been undermined recently by the spectacular new F-Type convertible and coupe.

Jaguar has increasingly been producing more extreme high-performance versions of the XK, in the shape of the XKR-S and XKR-S GT, but time has run out for the big boulevardier. Although the F-Type is smaller and more affordable, and has only two seats – mind you, the XK’s rear seats were small enough to be close to nonexistent anyway – it will effectively be the XK’s replacement.

But that does not mean Jaguar is getting out of the four-seat-coupe business. Plans are already afoot for a two-door version of the upcoming XE compact saloon (a teaser photo of which was revealed at Geneva motor show last week).

That car would compete with the likes of the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Mercedes C-Class Coupe.

In addition, Jaguar is known to be considering a large coupe based on the next-generation XJ saloon. That car, a full four-seater, would compete with the likes of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe and Bentley Continental GT.

It is far from certain to reach production, however: Jaguar is undergoing a dramatic expansion at the moment, and its engineers will be at full stretch preparing the new XE saloon, plus its coupe and estate offshoots, for sale. That car is of far greater commercial importance than a two-door XJ.