Blown V6 for Jaguar XE

Jaguar has confirmed via its UK website that its upcoming XE sedan will be offered with a high-output 250kW 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine.

The British luxury car-maker previously announced that the XE would be offered exclusively with its all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel ‘Ingenium’ engine family, which would make the XE capable of 300km/h top speeds.

The about-face on the new model's engine line-up will give the brand more flexibility in combating rivals such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 sedans.

Although the rear-wheel drive XE V6 won't quite be up to BMW M3 levels of performance, its 250kW/440Nm remaining well off the M3's 317kW/550Nm, the new Jaguar won't be a slow-poke and should accelerate to 100km/h in less than six seconds.

The boosted 3.0-litre V6 that will slot into the Jag XE's engine bay is also offered in a much higher state of tune in the F-TYPE sports cars, which generate up to 280kW.

The Jaguar XE is based on a new aluminium platform – revealed beneath the C-X17 concept, which previews Jaguar’s first SUV -- that will ensure it’s light and dextrous, not to mention efficient.

Jaguar first previewed the XE at this year's Geneva motor show, where it announced it would reveal the full design later in 2014, ahead of the car's arrival in European showrooms from mid-2015.

Expected to be positioned in line with its German rivals, the XE should be priced from under $60,000 bracket in Australia when arrives here later in 2015.