Following the announcement of their arcade-like driver’s assistant, Jaguar has spilt a few more blueprints of their latest sports saloon, announcing the technology and the launch date for its upcoming X-TYPE replacement.
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Although Jaguar flaunted the XE for the first time at March’s Geneva Motor Show, the company has finally provided details of the innovations the car will harbour.
Jaguar, continuing their obsession with lightweight materials, have engineered a completely fresh aluminium monocoque, while the suspension comes courtesy of its F-TYPE roadster (front) and a newly developed Integral Link at the rear (akin to the new Mustang).
Judging by the setup, the car should enjoy a twisty or two.
On the power front, the Ingenium engine range will be the vehicle’s and Jaguar Land Rover’s trophy piece. The lightweight aluminium engines will feature both petrol and diesel variants coming in turbocharged and normally aspirated varieties too. But Jaguar claim that wasted frictional energy has been reduced by 17% in the 2.0-litre diesel engine, improving fuel usage and dropping carbon emissions. The engines are also around 80kg lighter than normal units.
Other gizmos include an advanced power steering system that’s melded to additional safety and driver aids, and advanced traction control feature dubbed “All Surface Progress Control.” Essentially, the system regains traction with “far less drama than a human driver can achieve,” the company notes. While best used in slippery conditions, the system can automatically acivate if the grip levels should suddenly change.
The XE sounds rather promising, and it would have to be in a segment featuring the likes of the BMW 3-series, Mercedes’ C-Class range and Audi’s A4, among others. But the lightweight construction and efficient engines will likely, and quite literally, throw a Jaguar among the pigeons.
As for the official world premiere date, expect the British firm to draw the curtains at the London-billed event on 8 September.
