►Edited by : Shahen Tharammal
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► PRICE :
Jaguar F-Pace 20d AWD $40,990
Jaguar F-Pace 20d AWD Premium $44,200
Jaguar F-Pace 20d AWD Prestige $48,700
Jaguar F-Pace 20d AWD R-Sport $53,900
Jaguar F-Pace 35t AWD $42,390
Jaguar F-Pace 35t AWD Premium $45,600
Jaguar F-Pace 35t AWD Prestige $50,100
Jaguar F-Pace 35t AWD R-Sport $55,300
Jaguar F-Pace S $56,700
All right, you can stop gnashing your teeth. Yes, yet another fabled luxury brand has succumbed to car buyers' seemingly unquenchable desire for luxury SUVs. But after driving the 2017 F-Pace, I can happily confirm that Jaguar hasn't brokered a deal with the devil, nor is it suffering through some sort of existential crisis. Upscale car companies -- even those best-known for sporting cars -- can offer an SUV without losing their souls in the bargain.
In fact, they'd better. Reading today's market, modern luxury automakers almost don't seem to have a prayer of long-term profitability if they lack a high-rider or three in their portfolio. Jaguar knows this all too well. It's completely reinvented itself over the last eight years, and despite building some utterly beguiling cars, disappointingly few buyers have been paying attention. Last year, Jaguar sales actually slipped by eight percent in a white-hot market that climbed six percent. Across all model lines, Jag sold just 14,466 vehicles in North America in 2015. Meanwhile, its all-SUV, all-the-time sibling, Land Rover, saw sales skyrocket by 37 percent, selling over 70,500 units.
Jaguar may not yearn to be all things to all people like some of its European contemporaries, but clearly it needs the F-Pace rather badly.
Good thing it looks so stylish, right? The F-Pace crossover has adopted the upright, rounded rectangular grille, fast roofline and piercing horizontal light fixtures of Jag's F-Type and its all-new XE and XF sedans, all of which are very fine things indeed. Those individual bits and the English marque's overall styling language actually lend themselves beautifully to a taller, two-box SUV format (certainly better than Porsche's did when it grafted the nose of a 911 onto its ungainly first-generation Cayenne). In the metal, the F-Pace looks taut, handsome and more than a little snarly.
Jaguar officials tell me their new baby is "closest in personality" to BMW's X4 and Porsche's Macan, but its 186.3-inch length, 76.2-inch width and 113.1-inch wheelbase means it's slightly longer and wider than those vehicles. With its larger-than-average interior, the F-Pace arguably straddles crossover segments, and its performance matches up surprisingly well with lower-end examples of bigger, costlier SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and even the Maserati Levante.
At launch, five primary trim levels will be available, with three engine choices sprinkled among them: Base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport and S. The latter arrives with a 380-horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, and models below the S snug either Jag's 180-hp, 2.0-liter Ingenium diesel four-cylinder or a slightly detuned, 340-hp version of the 3.0-liter gas engine between their front fenders. In addition, a special First Edition model will be available in the early going. Just 275 examples are headed to the States, so it's a good bet that all of them are spoken for.
EXTERIOR
Our rendering of the Jaguar F-Pace was pretty spot-on compared to the real deal, which is to say that Jaguar didn’t get too ambitious in giving the SUV a completely unique look. The headlights, for instance, carry the signature ‘J’ Blade design, which can also be found on the 2017 Jaguar XE and 2016 Jaguar XF . Even the gaping grille and the large air intakes were carried over from Jag’s lineup of sedans.
The side of the F-Pace isn’t spectacular by any means. With the exception of a pair of side gills that extend over the front doors, and an inverted crease in the bodywork that gives the SUV an agile stance, the side profile is about as clean and as unassuming as it’s going to get in the SUV segment.
Move to the back and it’s more of the same in the sense that Jaguar didn’t try to do anything spectacular or controversial with the design, opting again for something a little more consistent with its range of sedans.
INTERIOR
The interior of the F-Pace also draws plenty of similarities from its sedan siblings as far as the focus on luxury and refinement are concerned. The luxurious feel is defined by the range of contemporary trim options available for the SUV. Depending on the trim, customers can choose from authentic metal finishes like meshed aluminum to more crafted veneers like Satin Grey Ash.
The SUV’s instrument panel is also similar to the ones found in the XE and XF sedans. It’s made up of two analogue dials and a central FT display as part of the standalone configuration. Potential owners do have the option of getting a larger 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster that comes with four different visual themes, full-screen navigation, and crystal clear HD. Just below the large display are a series of buttons that are laid out cleanly, keeping the design of the entire center console tight and with minimal clutter.
Space is also a source of pride for the F-Pace as Jaguar made sure to have enough of it to comfortably seat five. The leather sports seats are designed with comfort and support in mind, with 14 different adjustments plus heating and cooling functions. Even with this kind of seating layout, the F-Pace still has room to accommodate 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the rear seats flat and the space increases to an impressive 61.4 cubic feet.
SPECIFICATION
► Year:2017
► Make:Jaguar
► Model:F-Pace
► Price:$ 40990
► Engine:inline-4
► Transmission:8-speed automatic
► Horsepower @ RPM:180 @ 4000
► Torque @ RPM:318 @ 1750
► Displacement:2.0 L
► 0-60 time:8.2 sec. (Est.)
► Top Speed:129 mph
FEATURES
Jaguar offers the F-Pace in four trim levels called base, Premium, Prestige, and R-Sport, respectively.
Base models come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, a sliding sunroof, black cladding on the doors, cruise control, a 380-watt sound system with 11 speakers, power front seats, shift paddles, rain-sensing wipers, one-touch up/down windows, heated door mirrors, automatic headlights, a power tailgate, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, 40/20/40-split rear seats, air vents for the rear passengers, shopping bag hooks in the trunk, dual-zone A/C, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, and keyless start.
Stepping up to the Premium trim brings 19-inch alloy wheels, a memory function for the front seats, auto-dimming door mirrors, a color-coded touch screen surround, a rear-view camera, and a HomeLink transceiver.
Prestige models benefit from leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, navigation, Jaguar's InControl Apps tech, four-way lumbar adjustment for the front occupants, keyless entry, parking sensors on both ends, and ambient lighting.
The R-Sport model gains 20-inch alloys, a full body kit that brings a more muscular look, front fog lights, LED headlights, satin chrome trim, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, lane keeping assist, a blind spot monitoring system, autonomous emergency front braking, and Sirius XM satellite radio.
The list of options includes several equipment packages. Notably, the Cold Climate Package bundles a heated front windshield, heated washer nozzles, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Vision Package brings Xenon headlights, a blind spot monitoring system, headlight washers, front parking sensors, and rear cross traffic alert. Finally, the Black Package adds gloss black trim all around.
Standalone options include a hitch, heated washer nozzles, a full-size spare, luggage rails, and a Wi-Fi connection.
STYLING
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace is a compact luxury SUV that seats five passengers. There are five trim levels: base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport and S. All but the S are available with a choice of engine (specified 20d or 35t). There is also a loaded version of the S known as the First Edition, only 275 of which are bound for the United States.
The base F-Pace comes standard with all-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, cruise control, an automatic speed limiter, rear privacy glass, LED running lights, automatic wipers, keyless ignition and entry, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power front seats, a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, LuxTec simulated leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, InControl Protect emergency communication services, the InControl Touch 8-inch touchscreen electronics interface, Bluetooth phone and audio, and an 11-speaker Meridian sound system with a USB port, a media player interface, an auxiliary audio jack and a CD player. A rearview camera and satellite radio can be added separately.
The Premium adds 19-inch wheels, the rearview camera, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors and driver memory functions. The Vision package adds automatic bi-xenon headlamps with auto-leveling and washers, front and rear parking sensors, and a blind-spot warning system. Both the base and Premium F-Pace models can be bolstered with a Cold package that adds heated front and rear seats, a heated windshield and a heated steering wheel that features upgraded leather. They can also be equipped with a navigation system integrated into the InControl Touch system.
The F-Pace Prestige adds most of the above optional equipment plus front and rear parking sensors, the Cold package equipment, leather upholstery, four-way front seat power lumbar, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a folding rear armrest, voice controls and smartphone apps. It does not include the blind-spot warning system, which is instead included in the Prestige Vision package, which also includes adaptive LED headlamps.
The R-Sport adds 20-inch wheels, special styling elements, the Prestige's optional equipment, foglamps, lane-keeping assist, an automatic emergency braking system, automatic high beams, more aggressively bolstered front seats with power-adjustable thigh support, and a simulated leather-trimmed instrument panel.
The F-Pace S is similarly equipped but comes with 40 extra horsepower, an adaptive suspension (optional on the Prestige and R-Sport) and different styling elements.
The Prestige, R-Sport and S can be equipped with the Comfort & Convenience package, which adds ventilated front seats, power-reclining rear seats, a remote release for the folding rear seats and a hands-free gesture-activated power liftgate. The Technology package adds a full LCD screen instrument cluster, 3G onboard WiFi, a 17-speaker Meridian surround-sound audio system, and a different, upgraded InControl Pro 10-inch touchscreen interface with configurable menu screens and improved functionality. They can also be equipped with a head-up display, roof rails and an "Activity Key" waterproof bracelet that allows you to unlock the car with the key still inside.
The R-Sport and S can be equipped with the Luxury Interior Upgrade package that includes four-zone automatic climate control, additional rear seat air vents, upgraded carpets and headliner, 10-color interior ambient lighting and a cooled glove compartment. The Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, speed limit notification, three additional parking cameras and an automatic parking system (parallel, perpendicular and exit). They can also be equipped with 22-inch wheels.
The First Edition includes every option possible plus special paint selections, houndstooth interior trim and upgraded leather upholstery with a special houndstooth embossment
PERFORMANCE
Jaguar's parent company already sells plenty of SUVs under its other imprint—maybe you've heard of it, Land Rover?—so the F-Pace has both an overlapping SUV mission and the permission to strike out in a far more performance-oriented direction.
Which it does. With its lighter-weight aluminum body, gobs of supercharged horsepower, and sedan-like road manners, the F-Pace is one of our favorite crossover SUVs to drive quickly, right up there with the Porsche Macan. We give it an 8 for performance, crediting a great drivetrain and its blend of off-road ability and on-road agility for an "exceptional" point.
Power for the F-Pace comes from a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. On most versions it makes 340 horsepower; on the F-Pace S, it's tuned for 380 hp, a 0-60 mph time of about 5 seconds, and a top speed of 155 miles per hour, according to Jaguar.
In either trim, the supercharged V-6 makes no bones about its sporting intentions. It's quick, and the exhaust sounds want you to know it, and that can wear on passengers after a few hundred miles of driving.
Taking the road less traveled—less and less after a worldwide scandal—Jaguar also offers the F-Pace with a turbodiesel inline-4. With 180 hp and 317 pound-feet of torque, it's estimated for a 60-mph run of about 8 seconds, and fuel economy of 33 mpg on the highway
With the turbodiesel, the F-Pace is more relaxed and less vocal. Passing power isn’t overwhelming, but it's the obvious choice if you'll do any light off-roading in this luxury crossover; it'll idle at 800 rpm all day as the F-Pace works its way off pavement, even way off.
► Jaguar F-Pace: traction and all-wheel-drive systems :
An 8-speed automatic with a rotary shift control and, on S models, paddle shift controls, is standard on the F-Pace. It's a perfect companion to both powerplants, with a few ratios devoted to low-end grunt and a couple enabling smooth high-speed cruising.
The F-Pace is the first Jaguar to offer standard all-wheel drive. It’s a new chain-driven system that lets power split from a heavy rear bias to a neutral split from the front to the rear wheels. The setup can constantly vary which wheels get power, based on acceleration and cornering forces.
It's a key part of delivering real off-road ability in the F-Pace. Even though it's fitted normally with 18-, 20-inch tires, the F-Pace can pick its way around rocks and mud thanks to some Land Rover-like specs. (Opting for the 22-inch wheels gets a standard set of summer tires, which is not necessarily ideal for bouldering, but you're welcome to it and please, send video if you do.)
The F-Pace has up to 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and approach and departure angles of 25.5 degrees and 25.7 degrees, front and rear. It can wade through water up to 20.7 inches high.
The SUV also gets a programmable driving-mode system that lets the driver tailor throttle delivery, shift timing, and traction-control settings based on the driving surfaces. Select snow/ice, wet pavement/gravel, or a deep-snow mode, and the F-Pace adjusts its power delivery accordingly.
On our first drive in the Balkan country of Montenegro, the F-Pace moved assertively over old Prussian roads cut into stony ground. Its electronics handled hillclimbs and descents flawlessly, with the turbodiesels getting the easy nod for extreme low-end smoothness.
► Jaguar F-Pace ride and handling :
It can go decent distances into the deep, but the F-Pace is no Land Rover. It's set up to be a practical Jaguar, which means ride and handling take priority over rock climbing and mud-running.
The F-Pace's hardware is based on the stuff that underpins the XF and XE sedans, with some reworking to accommodate its wagon body and higher weight. Most of the mass in its front control arms and rear independent suspension comes from aluminum pieces, for less weight and more responsive handling. Monotube dampers are standard, but the F-Pace also offers adaptive air dampers as an option.
Steering is variable-ratio, driven by electric motors, tunable in the F-Pace's driving modes. The brakes can simulate torque vectoring by clamping on an inside wheel to tighten the cornering line.
All told, the road-biased handling gives Jaguar an SUV that's on par with Porsche's Macan. Its linear, progressive steering and tightly controlled body motions have a Germanic flair. Its stiff body and firm suspension mean the tires work hard to keep its 4,000 pounds of curb weight in place, but it rarely feels overly heavy or dull.
One note: we'd opt into the mid-range 20-inch wheels and tires. With them, the F-Pace is more absorbent, and steering feel is just plain better. There’s not as much wheel mass to overcome, and finer inputs are easier to execute—while the optional 22-inch tires give great grip, at a noticeable cost to ride quality.
DRIVETRAIN
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace is offered with a pair of powertrain choices, including the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6. The turbodiesel is the one to pick when economy is king, but the F-Type-derived V-6 is the more lively option. The supercharged mill comes in two versions – one making 340 horsepower and the S version making 380 horsepower. Both tunes kick out 332 pound-feet of torque. Mated to the engine is the venerable and omnipresent ZF eight-speed automatic.
My F-Pace S proved plenty powerful for its 4,015-pound curb weight. The sprint to 60 mph is done in 5.1 seconds and its top speed is governed at 155 mph. Around town, the torquey V-6 combined with the low gearing in the transmission’s bottom gears allows for snappy take-offs. The AWD system ensure no wheel spin impedes forward progress. The ZF also allows for paddle shifting, making the F-Pace a more playful toy. Shifts aren’t nearly as fast as the F-Type’s, but it isn’t laggy by any means.
The V-6’s exhaust note is also audible from inside, especially when deep into the throttle. It’s just the right about of sound, though it’s not the melodic sound I’ve come to adore from the F-Type’s 5.0-liter supercharged V-8.
Speaking of the AWD system, Jaguar says it developed this system on its own, so it’s not exactly comparable to Land Rover’s Terrain Response system. Still, Jaguar’s All Surface Progress Control allows the driver to select from Dynamic, Normal, Eco, and AdSR. That last one is called Adaptive Surface Response and it automatically adapts the throttle response, transmission shifting, and DSC system to the type of surface it detects is rolling under the tires. This is the proper setting for bad weather or light off-roading.
The AdSR system has three pre-set categories it automatically shifts into. The first is for low-traction environments like snow and ice. The second is for medium traction surfaces like wet roads or gravel. The third mode is for high-drag conditions like deep snow, deep gravel, or deep mud. Keep in mind, the F-Pace isn’t Jaguar’s version of the Range Rover Evoque. It’s not meant to tackle the Rubicon Trail.
ENGINE
Powerhouse heritage is already a big part of the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace. At its May 2016 launch, the F-Pace will come with the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that's making a legend out of Jag's F-Type sports car. That sweetheart of an engine comes at two levels of boost: 340-horsepower for the non-S models and 380-horsepower for S versions. In September 2016, the F-Pace will add a potent and fuel-miserly 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder available on all but the S models. Fear it not: This Ingenium diesel engine's 318 lb-ft of torque -- produced from just off idle to 2,500 rpm -- pulls the F-Pace off the line and into traffic easily for hours with barely a dent to the fuel gauge. The superb ZF 8-speed automatic comes standard on all models.
► 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-4
180 horsepower @ 4,000 rpm
318 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A
► 3.0-liter supercharged V6
340 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg
► 3.0-liter supercharged V6 (F-Pace S & First Edition models)
380 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg
SAFETY
Every 2017 F-Pace comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. A rearview camera and parking sensors are optional on the base model and standard on all others. Automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist are standard on the R-Sport and S. A blind-spot and reverse traffic warning system is also standard on those trims and optional on the Premium and Prestige.
FUEL ECONOMY
The 2017 F-Pace is available in two powertrains, a supercharged V-6 that comes in two different power levels: 340 and 380 hp; and a 2.0-liter turbodiesel inline-4.
On the gas models, fuel-economy figures are the same. The EPA rates the F-Pace at 18 mpg city, 23 highway, 20 combined. Having a diesel option is all the better. We give it a 7 for gas mileage.
That's in line with vehicles like the Porsche Macan GTS, rated at 17/23/19 mpg. The Audi Q5 with the supercharged V-6 comes in higher, at 18/26/21 mpg.
Despite the agita experienced by VW Group diesels and delays in EPA certification, Jaguar is selling a turbodiesel inline-4 version of the F-Pace now. The EPA rates that model at 26/33/29 mpg, which is a substantial improvement over its competitors.
VIDEO
By : The fast lane car
►Edited by : Shahen Tharammal
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