Jaguar’s->ke39 got some really big plans for the future of the brand. Circle your calendars for 2017, fellas, because the Big Cat is expected to come out with a fresh, new look. Company insiders revealed Jag’s future plans to Edmunds, and if there’s any truth to what they’re saying, we can expect a game-changing design for the British automaker.

It’s hard not to get excited when people start throwing out words like "change" and "jolt," as if to say that we should all expect a dramatic new-look for Jag. But those were the words Edmunds’ sources used. Evidently, the arrival of the F-Type Roadster and the XE compact sedan->ke142 didn’t “jolt” us enough.

The next-generation XJ was singled out as the model that will get the most changes out of Jag’s current lineup. That should give luxury sedans->ke505 like the BMW 7 Series, the Audi A8, and the Mercedes S-Class something to collectively worry about.

Although nothing has been confirmed yet, there’s also talk that a production model of the C-X17 crossover is being planned. In the event that it gets the production thumbs up, a production Jaguar crossover could receive an aluminum body and, more importantly, an engine range similar to what the XE has. Speaking of new models, Jaguar’s also discussing the possibility of a new “white-space” model range; a replacement for the recently departed XK, and a smaller model that could compete with the likes of the Mercedes CLA-Class and the Audi A3 sedan.

In other words, Jaguar’s planning to turn the auto world upside down, which is probably what Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Strong, and Tom Hiddleston all talked about in those “British Villains” commercials earlier this year.

Click past the jump to read more about Jaguar's future plans.

Why It Matters

When you’re talking about mainstream luxury brands, it’s hard to get into a conversation that already has Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Lexus and Infiniti are clawing their way into that discussion, but once upon a time, Jaguar was also part of that discussion.

It’s been a while since the British automaker sat on that perch, but give Jaguar credit for aggressively turning things around with its plan to re-establish its lost glory. It began earnestly with the redesigned XF, XJ, and XK models. Then it was followed up by one impressive concept after another. Then the F-Type Roadster came into the picture, followed shortly by the XE compact luxury sedan.

If anybody’s keeping score, all those moves and all this talk of possible future plans means one thing: Jaguar’s claws are coming out and it’s not afraid to use them on its way back to the top.

Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE is the closest thing to a preview of Jag’s future plans as any other model in its lineup. For one, it’s the most recent model to come out of Coventry, having just made its debut on September 8, 2014.

The XE’s arrival also filled a huge void Jaguar had in its lineup. For all the strides it’s made with its current portfolio, it still lacked a compact premium sedan that could challenge the BMW 3 Series, the Audi A4, and the Mercedes C-Class. Then the XE arrived and just like that, Jaguar now has its German slayer.

The car’s style was heavily influenced by the XF, including the long hood, the short rear end, and the coupe-like roofline. It also has a powerful range of engines, beginning with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that spews out 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. These figures allow the XE to propel from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

Other engine options are expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show so keep an eye out for that. We surely will.