Jaguar F-pace production version teased

Jaguar has released a first image of the production version of its upcoming SUV, the F-Pace. The Jaguar F-Pace will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this month. The first official image reveals the side profile of the SUV, which as promised, stays true to the original C-X17 concept first shown in 2013.  The Jaguar C-X17 concept was also showcased at the Auto Expo 2014 in India.

The Jaguar F-Pace will be officially unveiled on September 14, 2015. Jaguar says that apart from the F-Pace, only the new XE and the second-gen XF sedans share the same modular platform. Along with the F-Pace, the two sedans will also be manufactured alongside at the Solihull, UK plant.  The F-Pace SUV will also feature technology first seen on the firm’s F-Type sports car which is also on sale in India. This technology aims to improve the SUV’s ride and handling abilities and includes elements such as a torque vectoring system. This works in conjunction with the torque-on-demand all-wheel drive system and aims to improve agility in corners. 
The system reduces power to a wheel in the event of a
loss of traction in a bid to eliminate understeer.

The F-Pace’s steering has also been developed using knowledge gained from the F-Type. The electric power-assisted system has been set up to provide as much feedback as possible, with Jaguar saying it is capable of responding to even the smallest input. Other confirmed technology includes double wishbone front suspension and integral link rear suspension.

The F-Pace prototype also acted as the support vehicle for the first stage of the Tour de France, the so-called Grand Depart, and carried team members and support equipment for the likes of British riders Chris Froome, Luke Rowe and Peter Kennaugh as part of Team Sky. This stage was short by the Tour’s standards, as it is a 13.7km time trial. The car then joined riders at the finish in Paris.

Jaguar, apart from the standard versions, is also readying a supercharge 3.0-litre V6 version of the F-Pace. It will feature red brake calipers, two large exhausts and chunky alloys.  Jaguar is also likely to plonk in the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 motor in the F-Pace in the near future.  The staple engines on offer for the F-Pace are expected to be the newly launched Ingenium petrol and diesel units, that already are on duty in the XE sedan and the recently launched Land Rover Discovery Sport in the international markets.

The F-Pace’s cabin is also likely to come with all-new look and set of materials, not seen earlier on any production Jaguar vehicle. The launch of the new F-Pace marks the first time the 80-year-old manufacturer has entered the SUV market. The F-Pace name is understood to have been chosen to emphasise both its relationship in style and character with the F-Type sports car and to recall Jaguar’s famous 'Grace, Pace, Space' slogan of the 1950s and 1960s.

Jaguar aims to position the F-Pace squarely rivaling the likes of the Porsche Macan and BMW X4 crossovers.

The F-Pace’s styling was created in-house by design boss Ian Callum and his team at the beginning of 2013. It is a relatively long car for its compact billing, nearly 40cm longer than a Range Rover Evoque and about the same height.

Although the F-Pace will be Jaguar's first SUV model, it might not be the only SUV for long. Jaguar is understood to be eyeing up a whole family of SUVs to follow on from the F-Pace, with one of the most promising ideas being a smaller model to rival BMW's X1.