XJR

Make
Jaguar
Segment
Sedan

Let's face it, Europe's new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) really sucks. This strict set of regulations has already forced several automakers to kill off performance models in Europe. Some of the WLTP casualties include the F80 BMW M3 and Volkswagen Golf GTI - the Volkswagen Arteon has also been delayed in the U.S. because of a backlog in WLTP testing. Now the WLTP has claimed another causality, Jaguar's most badass super sedan. According to AutoExpress, the Jaguar XJR 575 will be discontinued in Europe.

We reached out to a Jaguar's Manager of Public Relations in North America, Nathan Hoyt, who told us "the XJR 575 will be offered in the U.S. in 2019, following its debut here last year." So there's some good news for U.S. buyers, the XJR 575 will stick around at least one more year.

The XJR 575 is Jaguar's most impressive sedan, powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing a whopping 575 horsepower enabling a 182 mph top speed. Unfortunately, it is a niche model, so killing it off in Europe wasn't a difficult decision for Jaguar. With its death, the XJR name is now off the market in Europe for the first time since 1994. Jaguar also announced it would stop making the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 model in Europe, leaving only the 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel model. This is the first time in the XJ's 50-year history that it will only be offered with a diesel engine. Luckily, this news doesn't seem to affect U.S. buyers.

The current XJ is starting to show its age and is long overdue for a replacement. Its successor is rumored to be an EV that will also underpin a new Land Rover. Until the new XJ arrives sometime in 2020, it will soldier on until Jaguar ultimately decides to discontinue it. It's a bit sad to think about, but the flagship XJ has actually become an afterthought in the Jaguar lineup. With SUVs like the E-Pace, F-Pace, and I-Pace vastly outselling cars like the XE, XF, and XJ, it seems like the Jaguar sedan's days may be numbered.