New F-pace hints at Jag future
Comprehensive overhaul provides first clues to how Jaguar’s next-gen cars will look
The refreshed Jaguar F-pace, which includes a new plug-in hybrid variant and an overhauled interior, hints at the design of a future generation of Jaguar models.
Jaguar exterior design boss Adam Hatton said: “We’ve had a good era [of design] from 2013’s F-type and a generation of cars that came from that.
This F-pace refresh is a step towards what we’re talking about for the future.”
The most pronounced exterior tweaks are slimmer LED headlights and tail-lights, new bumpers, a reprofiled bonnet and a larger grille with a diamond mesh design.
However, the F-pace’s cabin is where the most attention has been paid. As interior design chief Alister Whelan put it: “When the interior [of the outgoing F-pace] came out, it was a good interior but not a great interior. We really needed to take it to the next level.”
Whelan cited three key criticisms of the interior from customer feedback: too many hard plastics, limited storage and the infotainment system, all of which the brand believes it has addressed here.
“There are no scratchy plastics in this car anywhere,” said Whelan. Alongside betterquality trim, the F-pace adopts the I-pace’s steering wheel and luxury headrests from Range Rovers. “The comfort of this interior [versus the old car’s] is chalk and cheese,” said Whelan.
There is more room in the centre console for both the cupholders and, with no manual gearbox to intrude on space, a new, lower stowage section.
The infotainment system is the most dramatic difference. Using the Pivi Pro system first seen in the new Defender, the F-pace introduces a tablet-like 11.4in curved touchscreen not yet seen in other models. Other new tech includes over-the-air updates, wireless charging and cabin air ionisation.
Six powertrains are available and all employ all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The highlight is the new P400e plug-in hybrid. It uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a 141bhp electric motor to produce a combined 398bhp and 472lb ft and achieves 0-60mph in 5.0sec. It offers a claimed 33 miles of electric-only driving.
There are four mild-hybrid engine options. The diesels range from a 161bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder to a 296bhp six-cylinder. Jaguar Land Rover’s new straight-six petrol, which uses a turbocharger and an electric supercharger, also makes its way into the range, with 395bhp.
Only one non-electrified model remains: the entrylevel 247bhp 2.0-litre fourcylinder turbo petrol.
Using the same D7a platform as before, the F-pace “remains one of the most dynamic SUVS around”, Jaguar claims, thanks to chassis tweaks, the passive suspension set-up and configurable dynamics. Jaguar has also tuned the Audi Q5 rival’s dampers, springs and anti-roll bars on rougher surfaces for better ride quality.
“We wanted to make the car more luxurious and more refined,” said chief product engineer Colin Kirkpatrick.
Deliveries of the revised F-pace begin in December. It is priced from £40,860, rising to £64,490 for the top-of-therange PHEV, which arrives in spring 2021. A hot SVR model, powered by the same 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 as the current model, is also expected next year.