Body style 4-door saloon | Production 13 April 2015–present | |
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Assembly Solihull, West Midlands, United KingdomCastle Bromwich Assembly, Castle Vale, Birmingham, United Kingdom | ||
The Jaguar XE (codename X760) is a compact executive car manufactured by the British manufacturer Jaguar. The model was launched at the October 2014 Paris auto show, with production beginning in April 2015.
Contents
The XE is the first compact executive car Jaguar has produced since the 2009 model year X-Type and is the first of several Jaguar models to be built using Jaguar's new modular aluminium architecture, moving the company away from the Ford derived platforms that were used in the past for the X-Type and XF. The use of Jaguar's own platform allows the XE to feature either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations, and it is the first car in its segment with an aluminium monocoque structure.
The XE launched as a four-door saloon, but estate and coupé variants may follow.
Overview
The vehicle was announced, but not displayed, at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It had its world première on 8 September 2014 in London. Sales were expected to begin globally in 2015, followed by the United States in 2016. Production formally commenced on 13 April 2015 at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant.
Engines
The XE is powered by the new Jaguar Land Rover 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine range called Ingenium, and the new Jaguar 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine used by the F-Type. The V6 engines features in higher performance variants.
The Ingenium 2.0-litre engine family will come on both petrol and diesel variants and in a range of different power outputs. The 2.0-litre diesel producing 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) plays a part in reducing the overall averaged fuel consumption and carbon emission figures of new Jaguars, being capable of beating the 25 km/L (4.0 L/100 km; 59 mpg‑US) barrier, and producing CO2 emissions of 99 g/km. The cleanest models in Britain will have Vehicle Excise Duty charged at £0 per year.
Jaguar's Special Operations division will prepare a high performance variant to compete with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Audi RS 4, the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. This model will use the Jaguar AJ-V8 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, developing 500 PS (370 kW; 490 hp).
Transmission
The XE was initially produced as a rear-wheel drive car, but the Jaguar iQ[Al] modular architecture is capable of accommodating an all-wheel drive (AWD) system and AWD versions of the XE were launched in November 2015, allowing the XE to compete with Audi Quattro, BMW xDrive and Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC models.
All XE models are equipped with a ZF 8HP45 eight-speed automatic transmission, a lighter variant of the gearbox currently fitted to other Jaguar models and the competing BMW 3 Series. A six-speed ZF manual gearbox is available on diesel models.
Expertise developed for Jaguar's sister brand, Land Rover has been used in the development of a traction control system called All Surface Progress Control, developed from the Terrain Response system fitted to Land Rover's range of off-road vehicles. This system allows for better traction in snow and ice, conditions traditionally regarded as challenging for rear-wheel drive cars.
Exterior
Ian Callum was responsible for the exterior design of the vehicle. The construction features bonded and riveted aluminium construction, with the front and rear crash structure and key body panels being bolted on to simplify repair times and decrease insurance costs. The bonnet is of the pop-up type to provide additional protection in the event of a collision with a pedestrian.
The exterior design achieves a drag co-efficient of 0.26, comparable to that of the BMW 3 Series. The most feature additional drag reduction measures, such as air vents which open and close when needed to further reduce drag.
Platform
The XE is the first built on Jaguar Land Rover's iQ[Al] modular platform, which will be used for the second generation XF model, the Jaguar F-Pace sports utility vehicle (previewed as the Jaguar C-X17) and a new Range Rover to be positioned between the Evoque and the Sport. The design features double wishbone suspension at the front, with similarities to the system fitted to the XF and F-Type models, the rear features an entirely new subframe mounted multi-link suspension system, named by Jaguar as Integral Link. This system is a more costly combination to manufacture but allows for greater tuning to provide a good balance between handling and ride quality.
The major suspension components are manufactured from aluminium to reduce the unsprung mass, the overall mass of the vehicle and to increase the stiffness of the suspension system. There are sacrificial slipping fixings fitted within the suspension systems to prevent expensive major components from suffering damage in the event of kerb strikes. Aluminium forged control arms FUCA, Tension and Lateral arms come from Taiwanese company, Alfot Technologies Co., Ltd. To create the 50:50 weight balance Jaguar have located the battery in the boot, this takes up the space where a spare wheel would normally sit. They have also made the rear boot floor and trunk lid out of steel to perfect the weight distribution.
Three different sizes of brake discs will be fitted, depending on the vehicle's configuration, and the brake calipers will be of a single-piston type.
A power steering system is fitted and the XE comes with a choice of four different road wheel sizes. There will, initially, be a choice of eight alloy wheel designs.
Safety
Jaguar expected the XE to obtain a five star Euro NCAP safety rating which was proven in 2015. The design features several safety features now mandatory to be considered for a five star rating, including the Advanced Emergency Braking System (pre-crash system).
Interior
The interior for the Jaguar XE features several existing Jaguar design cues, including the rotary gear selector which rises when the car is started. The central console features an 8 inches (20 cm) touch screen (10.2 inch optional) allowing access to in car entertainment, satellite navigation and vehicle settings. The XE features smartphone connectivity and some models allow the owner to control the vehicle remotely, pre-heating the interior or unlocking the car using a smartphone application.
A laser colour head-up display is fitted (option), projecting speed and navigation instructions onto the windscreen in front of the driver.
Security
The XE was tested by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation and achieved the following ratings:
Production
The XE is the first Jaguar to be built at the Jaguar Land Rover factory in Solihull, which will be dedicated to the manufacture of aluminium vehicles - both Jaguar and Land Rover branded. The XE will be manufactured on the same production line as the second generation aluminium Range Rover Sport.
Production of the XE is expected to also commence in China during 2015, alongside the Range Rover Evoque.
The Jaguar Land Rover Ingenium 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines used in Jaguar XE is built at their new engine plant near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire.