Jaguar’s E-Pace inspired by the F-Type, says designer
“I didn’t want this to become a little F-Pace” Jaguar designer Ian Callum says at the North American debut of the brand’s new compact crossover, the E-Pace.
Gesturing toward the front fascia of the E-Pace, Callum says, “As we developed this car, I said I want a lot more of the F-Type. Let’s get some of that sportiness because we want to attract younger people, a new demographic with a relationship to the F-Type.
“What I’ve discovered about SUVs is a tendency to square them off at the back, to give them more practicality” adds Callum. “In actual fact, most people don’t use this area. So we’ve used it to give the car some visual dynamic, a slopingoff roof sweeping off into the rear spoiler … and a kicked-up tail in the back. Again, unashamedly inspired by the Jaguar F-Type.”
The headlamps and upswept rear end are also “unashamedly” influenced by the F-Type sports coupe, to give the new CUV a character that’s distinct from the larger F-Pace.
Not that the F-Pace is a bad thing to emulate; aside from winning more than 30 global awards — including 2017’s World Car of the Year and World Design of the Year — the crossover is largely responsible for nearly doubling Jaguar’s revenue last year, and is the fastest-selling model in the company’s 95-year history.
Given the F-Pace’s success, it’s no surprise Jaguar would follow up with an entry into what is now the fastest-growing vehicle segment: the premium compact crossover. Jaguar also predicts that 80 per cent of E-Pace customers will be new to the brand.
The E-Pace will be available in two models, both with standard all-wheel drive. The entry-level P250 will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium engine producing 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, while the P300 features a more sophisticated active all-wheel-drive system with electronic rear differential and torque vectoring. Also powered by a 2.0-L, turbo-four Ingenium, the P300 receives a power bump to 296 hp at 5,500 r.p.m. and 295 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 r.p.m. Both engine choices come with a ninespeed ZF automatic transmission.
It’s underpinned by a similar platform to the Range Rover Evoque, but rides on a re-engineered version of the F-Pace’s suspension setup for better handling. Aluminum body parts, suspension components and steering knuckles help with the E-Pace’s overall weight of 1,893 kilograms.
Prices will range from the $42,700 base model P250 right up to $57,300 for a fully loaded R-Dynamic HSE.
Callum speaks of seeing the lineup unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show recently.
“When I started at Jaguar 18 years ago, I had this vision of turning Jaguar, a traditional car company of perhaps three cars, into something it deserved to be, which was the Jaguar I grew up with in the ’60s: a cool brand, driven by cool people — footballers, professionals, rock stars … whatever. It was the brand to be seen in. We’d lost some of that over the last half-century. And I looked around at the stand at Frankfurt and thought, ‘You know what? I think we’ve done it. I think we’ve now reinvented Jaguar, back to the place it deserved to be.’”