Not so big cat ready to pounce on rivals N
OT too many years ago, if you suggested that Jaguar should be making an SUV it would have seemed like a crazy idea. Jaguar made beautiful high performance sports cars and saloons like the E-Type and XJ6 - but here we are in 2018 and the manufacturer now has three SUVs.
After the phenomenal success of the F-Pace over the past couple of years it was inevitable that other models would follow, including this week’s test car, its smaller brother the E-Pace.
Now, confusingly, the E does not stand for electric - no, that is the territory of the new I-Pace (see story, right), which we will hopefully be testing soon.
The E-Pace is a compact SUV which mirrors the looks of the F-Pace, just a bit smaller all round.
That is apart from in the engine department in our test version, the 250PS Petrol HSE R-Dynamic, which means 0 to 60 in a very impressive 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 143 from its turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine.
The Jaguar tradition of making very quick cars remains in this E-Pace with sports car performance to go with the offroad 4x4 capability... and it also rides on road like a saloon car making this a great all-rounder.
The E-Pace range starts from £28,545 for the entry level diesel S 150 2WD and there are also SE and HSE trims. Our top-of-the-range HSE R-Dynamic test car comes in at a hefty £47,060 - although almost £6,000 of that was made up of optional extras including a premium Meridian Surround Sound System (£1,020), panoramic glass roof (£970), head up display (£920), red brake calipers (£310) and surround camera system (£310).
As well as our fairly rapid 250PS petrol engine there is an even faster (0 to 60 in under six seconds) 300PS two litre turbo, both sourced from the F-Type, plus three diesel units, 150, 180 and 240PS with the most economical being the 150 at a combined 55.4mpg.
Although it is a mini-me F-Pace the small SUV is mechanically more like the Discovery Sport, with the same platform and transverse engine - a first for Jaguar since the X-Type.
Entry-level models are all frontdriven only - like the Evoque - but Jaguar expects most will be ordered with an on-demand clutch-based four-wheel-drive system capable of channelling drive to both axles. The most powerful models also get a GKN Driveline torque-vectoring rear differential similar to the one fitted to Ford’s hottest hatch, the Focus RS.
And also unlike it’s big brother the E-Pace has a lot less aluminium in its bodywork, meaning it is actually 40kg heavier than the larger car.
There is no doubt Jaguar’s engineers have come up with a very good looking vehicle on the outside, set off with 20” ten spoke alloy wheels plus chrome and black body details and twin large chrome exhaust finishers built into the rear bumper - perhaps a nod to Jaguars of old?
Inside is a very pleasant and entertaining place to be with four 12V charging points and five USB connections that cater for front and rear passengers plus the car’s own 4G wi-fi hotspot can provide for up to eight devices. There is plenty of room for all inside but the luggage area isn’t so generous due to that sloping roofline.
The list of standard equipment on HSE versions is long indeed including: heated washers and screen, auto lights and wipers, power, gesture activated tailgate, reversing camera, premium leather seats (heated and power memory for the front), keyless entry and start, sat nav and DAB radio, parking aid and a raft of safety systems.
So it looks like Jaguar may achieve their ambitions sales targets for the E-Pace as it has almost all the attractions of the hit F-Pace - in an even better looking and more practical package.
More information at www. jaguar.co.uk THE Jaguar I-PACE (above) has been named as a ‘Game Changer’ at the Autocar Awards 2018 for ‘defying conventions and turning the established order on its head’.
The all-electric I-PACE is fitted with a state-of-the-art 90kWh Lithium-ion battery, two Jaguardesigned in-house motors and a bespoke aluminum structure for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and a range of up to 298 miles.
The I-PACE delivers sustainable sports car performance, nextgeneration artificial intelligence (AI) technology and five-seat SUV practicality.
Mark Tisshaw, Editor of Autocar, said: “The Jaguar I-PACE is truly ground-breaking in its design and technology, and provides the blueprint for the future of the British car industry. It challenges every single convention associated with its maker, from its power source to its design and proportions - and on first acquaintance, it’s also been excellent to drive.”
The I-PACE is available from £63,495 (excluding government incentives)