(July 29, 2014) The upcoming Jaguar XE sedan has been designed around a new modular vehicle architecture and uses an aluminum-intensive unibody. Lightweight aluminum will account for 75 percent of the structure, Jaguar announced today.

Lightweight construction is a core element of Jaguar design, and Jaguar is at the forefront of aluminum technology in the automotive industry. The Jaguar XJ, XK and F-TYPE have all been developed using exceptionally stiff bonded and riveted aluminum structures: now the XE becomes the latest model to use this aerospace-inspired technology.

This light and strong architecture will deliver exceptional torsional stiffness, and will incorporate highly advanced suspension systems.

The Jaguar XE, which is designed as an entry-level sports sedan, will combine outstanding design with benchmark levels of ride and handling – it will be the true driver’s car in the segment. The Jaguar XE will make use of a new grade of high strength aluminum called RC 5754.

This new alloy features a high level of recycled material and makes a significant contribution toward Jaguar’s goal of using 75 percent recycled material by 2020. Designed and engineered in the UK, the XE will be the first Jaguar vehicle to be manufactured at a new purpose-built production facility at the company’s Solihull plant in the West Midlands in the UK.

The XE will be the first model to benefit from Jaguar's new in-house engine family. Jaguar hasn't released all the details yet, but the XE will use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with at least as much output as the 240-horsepower version in the current XF. An eight-speed automatic transmission is almost certain.

The world premiere of the new Jaguar XE will be held in London on Sept. 8, and it will go on sale sometime in 2015 as a 2016 model. Its competition will probably be the BMW 3-Series, the Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.