Even though it was just launched, the new Panamera has already provoked a wave of interest. So much, in fact, that even Jaguar reportedly thinks about joining in the party.

According to Car Advice, the British car manufacturer has already started working on the next-gen XJ, with a source close to Jaguar suggesting that the brand is in the process of confirming a new styling direction for the model.

With its clean, well-balanced proportions, the XJ was at the time of launch (2009) a step forward for Jaguar in terms of styling, even though it respects the elegant recipe of a luxury sedan.

But reports suggest that the Tata-owned company is looking to stir things up a bit, as it’s currently determining whether to keep things classy, or venture more towards a Porsche Panamera-inspired design.

Either way, according to Jaguar Australia managing director, Matthew Wiesner, the XJ will remain at the forefront of technology and engineering:

“The XJ will remain the pinnacle of our Jaguar sports saloon range and will be the showcase for new and cutting-edge Jaguar technologies now and into the future. The XJ truly encapsulates the art of performance.”

Moreover, regardless of what shape it’ll have, it will probably still sport a V8, and a XJR badge, as Edwards indicated:

“I think there’s going to be customer demand for that engine or variations of that engine for some time to come. We need to look at our portfolio because that’s how we get measure and work out how many engines like that we can sell and still meet our obligations. It’s still got some legs. Development…almost definitely. We’re going to continue to develop the engine.”

PHOTO GALLERY