2013 Jaguar XE caught in Death Valley

As car manufactures descend to Death Valley, spies have scoured the desert to bring you these spy photos of the forthcoming Jaguar XE compact sports car.

The XE test mules underpin a shortened XK platform and sport extended wheelarches, repositioned fuel cap, and fake body panels. This particular mule, unlike others, boast a pair of centrally-mounted twin exhausts with faux pipes on each end of the lower rear bumper.

A quick peek into the cabin reveals some tweaks, including two single seats. Power for the new XE will come from a newly-developed 3.0 litre V6, arriving in both naturally-aspirated and supercharged, with the latter likely to power a hot R-variant. A diesel engine is also a distinct possibility, alongside a petrol-hybrid.

Arriving in both coupé and cabriolet bodystyles, the XE will go on sale in 2013 where it will compete with the Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Audi TT, and BMW Z4.
 
Via WorldCarFans.com 
 

Jaguar usually registers its mules and prototypes in New Jersey