Jaguar Plans To Attack Entry Level Market With XE And F-Pace Models

The reason Jaguar is adding a pair of compact, lower-priced, entry-level models – the XE sedan and F-Pace CUV – is simple, says Rob Filipovic, general manager-product planning, at Jaguar North America.

“We needed to get more people into the Jaguar family,” he says in an interview while detailing the strategy behind launching the pair of new Jaguars at a Midwest Automotive Media Assn. preview here.

“We were too restricted in what we offered with only three models,” he says of the decision to expand that to five models when the ’17 XE and ’17 F-Pace go on sale in the U.S. in April.

2015 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA)

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jeffgall - 9/24/2015 5:00:23 PM

0 Boost

Jaguar will need a larger SUV to combat the X5 and Q7 (hopefully with 3 rows) to keep the customer long term.

GGabrielK - 9/25/2015 1:01:28 PM

+1 Boost

Having just returned from NOLA for track training on XE S and F Type R and seeing all the 2016 models up close, all I can say is hold on to your seat. It's going to be a wild ride. The new platform is WORLD CLASS and made the BMW 340 we had for comparison track testing feel very old fashioned.

Behind the wheel of the 3 Series,I just hoped the Jag would feel as good. Before I went 100" in the Jag, after tracking the 340, I knew the Jag just knocked off the BMW in responsiveness, chassis feel, steering feel. After just a few turns going in hot, it was noticeable that the front end didn't push like the BMW did. Its also the easiest car I've ever been in for recovery when you lose the back end (roughly 80 mph). I was hoping for rain and a wet track so my speed would be lower, but the XE just shined during this ham fisted maneuver. (I really did it on purpose, honest!...;)

The XE is incredibly refined, more comfortable yet easily out handles the BMW where it hurts most. I couldn't get away from the Jag when driving the 3 Series and could have pashed the BMW at will in turns when we switched (no passing rule). I can't believe Jaguar can offer this at this price point. Just amazing and sure to shake up the sports sedan tier.

I'm not trying to put down the 3 Series. I like old school stuff, and they are great used cars. But wow, next to the XE it was just out dated and heavy feeling. Like you took a good sedan and installed the best aftermarket anti sway bars, stiffer springs and firm dampers with a turbo kit. The lag that the turbochargers gave just wasn't there with the Jaguars supercharged engine.

What a marriage in heaven. It wasn't until the second day that I asked what hp rating this had. I would have sworn it was the 380 hp version. Everyone did. Nope....it was the 340 hp 3 liter. This is going to be a terror with the 380 hp tune.

I did drive a tuned 380 hp engine and it was a night and day difference. Not just in feel either but in sound. It felt like a low 400 hp V8. I have to be a little careful of what I share but there is huge hp increases in Jaguars engines just from changing the tune. Much more than I think anyone realizes unless they've seen them running free of the detune programs on the dyno's (which many have).