Jaguar’s latest offering, the five-seater E-Pace compact SUV was unveiled in London on 13 July. Although the E-Pace will sit below the F-Pace SUV in the line-up, Jaguar want the E-Pace to have its own identity, it is not just a smaller version of the F-Pace. To this end, styling cues have been taken from Jag’s F-Type sports car.
The front has a bold grille like the F-Pace, but the LED front lights look more like those of the F-Type. The low roofline” gets some speed into the shape,” Jaguar’s Chief Designer Ian Callum told AutoExpress, “With the cut-in graphics in the doors breaking up the sides.”
Jaguar claims a luggage capacity of 577 litres and the interior styling of the cabin follows the F-Type theme. Just like in the F-Type there’s a 360-degree grab handle for the passenger on the side of the centre console, although the dash is more futuristic and includes a next-generation touchscreen infotainment system with a standard central 10.2-inch touchscreen. However, a 12.3-inch full colour TFT digital instrument panel and a head-up display is optional.
Conveniently there are four 12-volt charging points, five USB points and a 4G wifi hotspot that can feed up to eight devices. It will also come with the brand’s wearable “Activity Key”.
The E-Pace will come with a choice of two petrol and three diesel powertrains. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel is available in 110 kW/380 Nm, 132 kW/430 Nm and 177 kW/500 Nm outputs, while the pair of 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol turbo units will deliver 183 kW/365 N.m or 220 kW/400 N.m.
A nine-speed automatic transmission will be available across the range, although two of the diesel engines (the two lower-powered ones)will come standard with a new six-speed manual transmission.
The compact SUV features an integral link rear suspension setup and will be available in all-wheel as well as front-wheel drive.
Jaguar promises a high equipment count across S, SE and HSE trims with a sportier look inside and out on the R-Dynamic model.
Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar, said: “Established Jaguar design principles ensure the E-PACE is immediately recognisable as the sports car of its class. Our new compact SUV combines the interior space, connectivity and security that families expect with the kind of proportions, purity of design and performance not usually associated with such a practical vehicle.”
The new model is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in early 2018.