Speculation is still big buiness at Jaguar: the leaper could be going upscale with a Daimler revival, going potentially diesel with the XK, and there's the never-ending rumor of something like an F-Type. Now, finally, a few pieces of fruit have fallen from the guesswork tree: Jaguar has filed trademark papers for the terms C-XE and C-XJ.

The concept XJ is expected -- the development car has been spotted here, there, and everywhere. Based on the production car's 2011 due date, the C-XJ will probably take the stage some time late next year or in early 2010. The only thing that remains is to find out how many design influences Ian Callum has settled on for the car.

The C-XE remains a conundrum. We know that Jag's new parents want a sports car in the litter, but where would it slot? In order not to step all over the XK, an E-Type would be a much harder sports car proposition, but would it bare its claws at the Porsche 911 or be a Boxster fighter? It has been rumored to share parts with the XF and XJ, and power is ostensibly coming from the 3.0-liter V6 Duratec. With a 2012 production date leave, the dynamic details probably haven't been settled. Regardless, it's good to see the cat getting ready to roar.

Since you can't even really call it a car anymore if it hasn't been blasted around the 'Ring in development, Jaguar has taken the mechanicals of the next XJ sedan to everyone's favorite playground. Those internals wear the ill-fitting sheetmetal of the current XJ, with the addition of serious wheel arches and a fire-breathing nose.

The real thing to take away from the story is this: the car has been described as "the XF's features... draped over an Aston Martin Rapide." Frankly, we were happy when the XJ's design was moved away from mimicking the Mercedes CLS. And we have come to appreciate the design of the XF. But this equation: XF + Rapide = XJ is the kind of thing that could go wrong. Mr. Callum, however, has earned the benefit of the doubt, so we will wait for the feast for our eyes to decide.