With the lightweight Jaguar XE->ke3138 soon to start battling the BMW 3 Series->ke290, rumors about the British company planning to roll out an entire family of vehicles are flying all over the place. Although not officially confirmed, the move makes a lot of sense considering Jaguar->ke39 is aiming to become a strong competitor to Germany's finest. Naturally, this scenario got us all excited and thinking what would an XE Coupe and Sportbrake version of the look like. Our rendering team was quick to provide us with some answers in that aspect, and, with the coupe already online, we have returned to show you the XE Sportbrake.

Yes, that's right, we're 100-percent positive the station wagon version of the XE will carry the Sportbrake moniker. It's already a tradition in the Jaguar family and the Brits wouldn't have it any other away, considering the same nameplate is used for the larger XF. Read on to see what it takes for the XE to become a premium grocery-getter.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2017 Jaguar XE Sportbrake.

Rendering

The XE Sportbrake will remain unchanged from nose to C-pillar. That's where things start to differ, as the rear doors get reshaped windows and the rear fenders are rebuilt to accommodate a design that requires a tailgate. Both the bumper and the taillights remain unchanged, but the roof resembles that of the XF Sportbrake, with a large spoiler sitting atop the tailgate. The third-row windows, on the other hand, are shorter and sport a slightly different shape that the XF's.

Drivetrain

The XE Sportbrake will likely borrow its engine lineup from the sedan, although we have doubts the Brits will offer a high-performance version of the wagon too. With that in mind, our bet is on the same supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 335 ponies and 332 pound-feet of torque as range topper, and a bevy of fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-bangers from the new Ingenium family. These engines are still a mystery, but expect them to burn both gasoline and diesel, and arrive in different states of tune.

Competitors

BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon

Jaguar would have one good reason to send the XE Sportbrake to the United States; it's where BMW sells its 3 Series Sports Wagon. The German estate is available in two guises, with the main difference lying under the hood, where a couple of powertrains are offered. First up is the 328i, which is motivated by the company's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder mill rated at 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. xDrive is standard on this model, while fuel economy is estimated at 33 mpg on the highway.

The second model in the lineup is the 328d, which runs on diesel. The 2.0-liter four-banger delivers only 180 ponies, but torque sits at a hefty 280 pound-feet. Naturally, the 328d, also offered with standard four-wheel-drive, is a much better performer in the fuel-economy department, as it returns 43 mpg on the highway. Pricing for the 328i starts from $41,750, while the oil-burner retails from $43,250.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon

The C-Class Wagon is brand-new for the 2015 model year and carries the beautiful design that debuted on its sedan sibling in 2014. The bad news is the Germans have no plans on bringing it to the States. It might make it across the pond for 2016, but Stuttgart is still mum on the details.

Unlike its rivals, the C-Class Wagon will benefit from an array of engines, especially in Europe where several gasoline and diesel units will be offered. Specifics are still under wraps, but we do know that the Merc's new diesels will churn between 115 and 204 horsepower and deliver impressive fuel-economy numbers. The gasoline plants, on the other hand, will crank at least 156 horses, with a 333-pony V-6 to join the lineup at a later date. There's no word on BlueTEC Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid versions, but they are possibilities.

Jaguar XE