The popularity of the Jaguar F-Type->ke1224, coupled with plans to offer new models has resulted in the demise of the Jaguar XK.

The British company has announced that production of company's entry level model will end later this year, marking the end of the model that has been in the Jaguar->ke39 lineup since 1996. The popularity of the F-Type has been a boon to Jaguar, but not so much for the XK, which saw its sales figures drop to less than 4,000 units per year. With so few customers having interest in the XK, it seemed that Jaguar found the right time to put the model to pasture after eight years on the market in America.

According to Jag's American National Product Communications Manager, "There are no immediate plans to replace the XK. We have a multiple product launches coming up, including the F-Type Coupe and the new XE Sports Sedan." By the sounds of this, the XK simply became redundant once the F-Type Coupe and XE take hold in the U.S. This also points toward the fact that Jaguar is open to a replacement for the XK too.

Also according to the American Product Communications Manager, there will be a 2015 model year XK here in the states, but that will be the final run for the sedan.

This may break some hearts, as this also means that the XKR and XKR-S will hit the scrap heap, but keep in mind that this also opens the door for an F-Type R-S, and an XER and XER-S, with the latter aimed squarely at the BMW M3.

For now, though, it looks like the Jaguar XK as we know it is coming to an end.

Click past the jump to read more about the Jaguar XK.

Jaguar XK

The Jaguar XK is largely responsible for bringing a lot of customers back to Jaguar’s fold. But with the arrival of the F-Type, the reality for the XK is that it's become dispensable, so Jag's decision to pull the cord on the model is completely understandable.

In standard form, the XK is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that packs 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds to go with a top speed of 155 mph.