• F-Pace on Jaguar’s light aluminium architecture
• Sports-car dynamics, all-wheel drive
• Many driver-assistance choices on offer
The All-New Jaguar F-Pace, its maker says, has been engineered from the outset to deliver the driving experience that sets all Jaguars apart from the competition. That means Jaguar took everything that gives its sedans and sports cars class-leading dynamics and applied them to the all-new F-Pace.
It’s the Leaping Cat brand’s first sport utility vehicle – complete with all-wheel drive..
Built on Jaguar’s lightweight aluminium architecture, the F-Pace combines a sports car driving experience, all-wheel drive and a spacious cabin, all in a lightt package. When equipped with Jaguar’s three-litre 280kW supercharged V6 the F-Pace can make 100km/h in only 5.5sec.
The light but stiff shell is 80% aluminium – the only aluminium-rich monocoque in its segment. More weight has been saved by installing a composite tail door and by using magnesium in various parts.
Despite being an SUV, the F-Pace has a drag co-efficient of only 0.34.
FOUL WEATHER: BRING IT ON!
The All-New F-Pace’s torque-on-demand all-wheel drive/eight-speed auto gearbox, Jaguar says, “is its most sophisticated yet” and preserves rear-wheel drive agility and handling but torque can be transferred to the front wheels, instantly, on demand.
That’s good news not only for off-road traction but also for severe weather – snow, ice and heavy rain – and even a sudden change in road surface such as from tar to gravel.
TRY ‘LOW-FRICTION’ LAUNCH
The system also partners with Jaguar’s “all-surface progress control”, a fancy phrase that translates to automatic low-speed contral – from 4-32km, Jaguar says, “all the driver has to do is steer”.
Such tech has been in use on 4×4 vehicles for some time – though more usually for gradient descent control.
There’s also “low-friction launch” control: if invoked, you can floor the hot pedal on gravel all you like but the car will only accelerate according to the tyres’ grip.
The car’s 213mm ride height and short front and rear overhangs are cool for off-roading: approach and departure angles are, respectively, 25.5 and 26.0 degrees.
Wading depth is about a half-metre.
To ensure that the F-Pace will deliver on all surfaces and in any weather units were tested in the searing heat of Dubai (+50°C) -and the freezing cold of northern Sweden (-40°C) over more than 400 000km..
The F-Pace will be available with a choice of several petrol or diesel engines:
‘Ultra-efficient’ two-litre Ingenium diesel makes 132kW/430Nm and claims a possible 5.3 litres/100km on the combined cycle.
A three-litre turbodiesel engine capable of 221kW/700Nm, good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.2sec, should you for some obscure reason be so inclined.
FIND MORE JAGUAR FEATURES ON CARMAN’S CORNER
Two three-litre supercharged V6 petrol units tuned for 250kW/450Nm or 280kW/450Nm and to sprint from rest to 100km/h in, respectively, 5.8 and 5.5sec. Each is restricted at 250km/h.
Auto cruise control, auto detection of parking slots and autonomous parking, approaching vehicle detection while reversing and various visual and audible traffic warnings are also part of the F-Pace package.
The All-New Jaguar F-Pace will be in South African showrooms from July 2016. Prices start at R776 800.
Carman's Corner 