A few details and images of the Jaguar E-Pace have been revealed ahead of its imminent unveiling, but some consumers are confused about what the smaller F-Pace is meant to be.
The Jaguar E-Pace is said to be a rival to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, which means it is smaller than the F-Pace SUV but shares a similar look albeit in a smaller, more rugged package.
More than 150 prototypes were built during its 25-month test period, which took place across four continents with temperatures ranging from -40°C in the Artic to 48°C in the Middle East. It even lapped the Nurburgring more than 400 times.
The spy shots, released by Jaguar Land Rover itself, are designed to show the E-Pace is able to ‘withstand a lifetime of use in the hands of the most active and demanding customers’.
The handling characteristic of the E-Pace is said to be somewhere between a driver’s car and a ‘dynamic and entertaining performance SUV’, which means it should be rather like the F-Pace to drive.
Owing to the size of the vehicle, the E-Pace is likely to be underpinned by the LR MS platform, which is used in the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque.
Cheaper versions of the E-Pace may well be of the front-wheel drive variety (a move unseen since the X-Type) because of the lack of space and subsequent need to move to a transverse engine layout. Four-wheel drive will be an option on costlier models, no doubt.
As for the engines available, a DVLA check of a prototype car revealed a 2.0-litre diesel electric hybrid powertrain is in testing, which would pave the way for lower CO2 emissions and more miles per gallon. Ingenium petrol and diesels are also more than likely.
“Our team of world class engineers and dynamics specialists have meticulously tuned and developed a true Jaguar,” said Jaguar E-Pace chief product engineer, Graham Wilkins.
“Months of intense testing on roads and tracks around the world have delivered a compact performance SUV that is true to Jaguar’s performance DNA,” he added.
Jaguar has been criticised in the past for its somewhat strange naming system and the E-Pace is no different. Some consumers think it is an electric car because of the ‘E’ bit, but that niche is actually being filled by the I-Pace.
A price of £28,500 for the entry-level model is expected, making it noticeably cheaper than the F-Pace and in line with the German equivalents.
The full reveal of the Jaguar E-Pace will take place on the 13th of July, 2017. We shall bring you all the news from the event so stay tuned.
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