Jaguar E-Pace Unveiled

The second SUV in Jaguar's lineup is here - this is the Jaguar E-Pace. The E-Pace, Jaguar claims, is a perfect blend of design, all-weather dynamics, practicality and high-tech features targeted at busy urban families. 

If it is a Jaguar, it has to be good looking. The E-Pace is no exception. 

It looks properly taught; with a highly sculpted body, striking windowline, 20-inch alloy wheels, short front and rear overhangs and many elements inspired from the F-Type sportscar. The Jaguar-signature oval grille, all-LED headlamps with 'J-blade' running lamps, accentuated rear haunches and tail-lamps were first seen on the F-Type.

The E-Pace has many eye-catching design details all around. The roof-sized panoramic sunroof, optional five split-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels, polished chrome/satin chrome side fenders, LED guide light with a 'racetrack chicane' element, dual exhausts integrated into the rear bumper etc. are just some of them.

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The E-Pace gets the largest ever 'Growler' badge to have been put on the grille of a Jaguar car - it hides the sensors for the adaptive cruise control system.

Inside, the E-Pace continues with the stylish theme. All the touch points are covered in soft-touch leather, with satin chrome inserts. At the front the wraparound cockpit design has been borrowed from the F-Type. The E-Pace is only the second Jaguar currently to feature a gear-stick rather than a rotary knob.

The centre console gets a 10-inch touchscreen 'Touch Pro' infotainment system while the instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch all-digital screen. The infotainment system can be had with either of two surround sound systems developed in conjunction with Meridian including a 825W system with 15 speakers. The E-Pace is the first Jaguar to feature new generation TFT full-colour Head-Up Display which is capable of showing multiple information at the same time. 

Details here include rotary knobs for the climate control which have the same tactile feel as the lens rings of a Leica camera. The HSE variant get animal print sewn into the shoulder pads of the front seats and rubber mats in the luggage. The E-Pace was lovingly known as the cub when it was under development and there are two details that point to the fact: on the windscreen and on the puddle lamp projection. 

Jaguar is highlighting the fact that the E-Pace is more than spacious enough for five adults along with their luggage. A 577-litre luggage compartment can be expanded to include 93-litre under-floor space if the spare wheel is not ordered. The second-row seats split fold in a 60:40 ratio for more usable space.

The Jaguar E-Pace is powered exclusively by the company's new range of 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol and diesel motor paired to either a 9-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission. 

Some variants of the E-Pace get paddle shifters to operate the 9-speed ZF gearbox. The JaguarDrive Control modes can be used to change the intensity of gearshifts. 

The diesel engine is available in three levels of tune - 

D150 - 150PS @ 3500rpm, 380Nm @ 1750rpm (only front-wheel-drive)

D180 - 180PS @ 4000rpm, 430Nm @ 1750rpm (AWD only)

D240 - 240PS @ 4000rpm, 500Nm @ 1500rpm (0-100kmph in 7.4 seconds)

These engines are offered with a diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue after-treatment system to make them Euro-6 emissions compliant. The system has yet to implemented in cars sold in India, though many truck manufacturers do use it.

The petrol motor is available in two states of tune, both are only offered with AWD drivetrain as standard - 

P250 - 249PS @ 5500rpm, 365Nm @ 1200-4500rpm (0-100kmph in 7.0-seconds) 

P300 - 300PS @ 5500rpm, 400Nm @ 1500-4500rpm

A big part of the Jaguar E-Pace's appeal is its dynamic ability without compromising on all-weather ability or comfort, and that has been achieved through a lot of innovations.

A new front suspension subframe along with lightweight front knuckle, stiff suspension bushes and anti-roll bars improve front end feel and minimise understeer, claims Jaguar.

The rear suspension borrows its design from the larger F-Pace, including a sophisticated Integral Link setup. This is not only good for dynamic on-road handling characteristics but also allows good articulation for off-road ability. The compact nature of the suspension is also the reason why the E-Pace has a spacious luggage compartment, apparently.

The E-Pace features an electronically configurable chassis management system called the Configurable Dynamics package. This allows drivers to set the throttle response, steering response, transmission shift speeds and adaptive suspension according to their driving preferences. 

The Jaguar E-Pace is being offered with two types of AWD systems - the Standard Driveline and the Dynamic Driveline. The standard system is only available with the 150PS diesel, 180PS diesel and 249PS petrol engines and distributes power to either of the two axles depending on the traction available at any given moment. 

The Active Driveline is a first for Jaguar, it adds torque vectoring to make the E-Pace more dynamically capable on-road as well as off-road. The system can send power to individual wheels, allow for controlled drifts by sending power only to the rear wheels or make the SUV very efficient by disconnecting the rear wheels altogether. Jaguar claims that the system can also mimic lockable differentials like proper off-roaders for better off-road ability. The system is only available with the models powered by the 300PS petrol and 240PS diesel engines.

Ease of using the E-Pace off-road is enhanced by an All Surface Progress Control system that acts like a cruise control at speeds between 1.8kmph and 30kmph.

Driver assist systems include a parking assist for parallel and perpendicular parking, adaptive headlamp beams, forward traffic monitor (looks for traffic when going across a blind junction), blind spot detection and prevention (car automatically stops the driver from steering into a car/bike/person in his/her blindspot) etc.

Safety system offered as standard include 6-airbags, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, traction control, hill start assist, ABS, emergency brake assist and corner brake control. A highlight is the addition of a pedestrian protection airbag which works in conjunction with the active bonnet to prevent major injuries to a pedestrian hit at speeds between 25-50kmph.

Jaguar has not announced any plans as to when the E-Pace will be brought to India. The first units will be headed to markets in Europe and China, assembled in Magna Steyr's plant in Austria and Chery's plant in China. The SUV will be on sale in the UK beginning December 2017, with prices starting at £28,500 (Rs 23.81 lakh).

When launched in India, the Jaguar E-Pace's only direct competition will be the Land Rover Evoque. Other SUVs/crossovers in the range may include the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3 (there's a new one headed our way), Volvo XC60 and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.