The new Jaguar E-Pace will be unveiled in full on 13 July, it has been confirmed. The smallest member of Jaguar’s burgeoning Pace-themed SUV family, it will join the established F-Pace and the upcoming i-Pace electric crossover.
First, Jaguar released a preview image showing part of the E-Pace’s tail, then tweeted an image showing the whole side profile of the car alongside its bigger F-Pace brother and the new i-Pace electric SUV. It’s no great surprise that the tail-lights adopt a similar family look to the F-Pace (and, in turn, the F-type), albeit with a more square-cut silhouette and a more heavily chamfered surface for the rear numberplate surround.
There’s a notably creased treatment to the intersection on the car’s rear haunches, as opposed to the more rounded surfacing on the F-Pace, and previous spyshots suggest a coupe-style sloping angle to the rear screen.
Here is CAR magazine’s earlier artist’s impression depicting the new 2018 Jaguar E-Pace:
Jaguar’ s director of design Ian Callum has described the E-Pace as having a ‘combination of sports car looks with Jaguar performance.’
Jaguar’s smallest SUV
Smaller than the F-Pace, the E-Pace’s dimensions don’t suit the larger car’s XE/XF-derived platform, and instead the E-Pace shares some of its architecture with Land Rover’s Evoque and Discovery Sport platform.
Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium engine family will form the entirety of the range, with both petrol and diesel options available. The most powerful models will be all-wheel-drive; Jaguar hasn’t yet confirmed whether entry-level E-Paces will be two-wheel-drive, but it seems likely in the quest for lower costs, thirst and CO2.
Jaguar E-Pace and Jaguar i-Pace – I’m confused… what’s the difference?
The Jaguar i-Pace, which goes on sale in 2018, is an all-electric car on a new platform. It be larger than the E-Pace, with more futuristic styling, and a considerably higher price point.
Slightly confusingly, an electric E-Pace is thought to be being considered for production too, or at least a partially electric one, with a small electric motor working in tandem with a downsized engine.
What will be natural rivals to the Jaguar E-Pace?
In terms of size and image, the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and perhaps a little friendly fire from its Range Rover Evoque stablemate.
The E-Pace is a car that Jaguar cannot afford not to build. The company’s statistics state the F-Pace is its fastest-selling model yet, and one which increased Jaguar sales by as much as 83% in 2016.
More on the Jaguar E-Pace soon.
