AN EVEN SMALLER JAGUAR IS POSSIBLE

Jaguar could make models smaller than the E-pace in the future, although no such car exists in the product plan yet.

When asked if there was room in the range for a Jaguar smaller than the E-pace, Ian Callum said: “No plans, but I’d like to think so.”

Rival firms BMW and Mercedes-benz have a full range of front-wheeldrive models derived from a common architecture. The E-pace differs in that it has SUV, rather than road car, architecture, meaning hatchbacks and small SUV spin-offs would be trickier.

“There’s no alternative to go front-wheel drive, transverse-engine here [with E-pace],” said Callum.

“It’s not cost, but size. You can’t afford to give wheelbase away,” he added, pointing out that BMW had switched from a rear-wheel-drive platform to a front-wheel-drive one with its second-generation X1.

Callum also confirmed that the next-generation XE will remain rear-wheel drive and that in future there will be greater design differentiation between Jaguar’s saloon car models, although they will continue to be linked by common themes.

“We will separate [the XE and the XF] more in the future,” he said. “There will be a constant grille, then a more flexible front.”

The I-pace, which will go on sale after the E-pace, is built on a bespoke electric architecture. When asked if there would one day be a whole family of Jaguar electric vehicles, Callum said: “Wait and see how we develop on mid-size platforms.”

More generally, he said that all types and sizes of car were possible for Jaguar: “There’s lots of choice, with lots of architectures with massive boundaries. We’re able to pick the right one. Perhaps it’s old behaviour to create products to suit architectures; now there’s no need to.”