Keep your eyes peeled come the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Jaguar has announced that this is the annointed time and place for the release of its keenly-awaited upcoming roadster.

Expected to be called the Jaguar XE, the roadster will reportedly be based on a modified Jaguar XJ platform. A supercharged V6 engine could make an appearance up front and would power the rear wheels, as God intended.

Jaguar boss Mike O’Driscoll explained that selecting 2011 was an easy choice.

“Geneva 2011 will be the 50th anniversary of the launch of the E-type and what better way to celebrate that than to launch a new sports car.”

O’Driscoll hinted that a fifth and smaller model could also join the line-up, noting that a new roadster was not Jaguar’s only ambition. While O’Driscoll played his cards close to his chest, he did confirm that the new model would not be a replacement for the ageing X-type.

In unrelated but equally interesting Jaguar news, O’Driscoll went on to say that additional engines options may be considered for the XF further into its life cycle. A four-cylinder diesel was mentioned with O’Driscoll commenting that there was “no reason why we shouldn’t”. There’s bound to be more good things coming from Jaguar, so stay tuned.