The new Jaguar XE presents its credentials

What is probably one of the most important Jaguar of recent years has finally made its appearance after months of waiting.

Called XE, the British firm has placed high hopes on this model, which we will be able to see in person at the Paris Motor Show in just three weeks.

With a grand presentation, Jaguar shows us its offering for one of the most contested segments within the global car market, that of premium compact saloons. With a starting price of 37,000 euros, it currently sits at the level of models such as the 3 Series from BMW, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or the Audi A4.

So we could call it something like the spiritual successor to the X-Type, which left the market several years ago after a career that was not as successful as Jaguar would have liked. This time, Jaguar has learned its lesson, and returns to the fray with a saloon that is much more mature, better built, and in general much more attractive.

From the very first moment, the XE catches the eye thanks to a very attractive design, which carries the general lines the British brand has brought to market in recent years in models such as the XF or the F-Type. The front stands out for a large grille, accompanied by elongated light units similar to those of the XJ.
The side is perhaps the least striking part of the whole, as it offers a look quite similar to that of the XF. If something works, why change it?

On the other hand, the rear brings a fresh air to the brand, with a youthful and dynamic design, never seen before in Jaguar. The rear lights, with lighting similar to that of the F-Type, offer a sporty touch that continues with a bumper featuring a diffuser and, depending on the version, two exhaust outlets of more than generous size.

Inside, the emphasis is on quality. The dashboard offers simple lines, without major daring. We can speak of an evolution of the straight design found in the XF, maintaining qualities such as style and the level of finish. The instrumentation immediately recalls that of the F-Type, which adds another touch of spice.

As for technology, the XE can boast of being one of the most advanced vehicles on the market today. Already from its construction, mostly made of aluminium, we realise the level of this Jaguar, which stands as one of the lightest in its segment. This Jaguar is the first in its history to debut electric power steering. In addition, the XE introduces the new Ingenium engine family, which we told you about a few months ago, as well as a V6 petrol engine, reserved for the S version.

The diesel engines (two at launch) will come as standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the petrol engines will come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The suspension is independent on both axles, using a deformable parallel design for the front axle and multi-link for the rear axle.

Among the equipment, systems such as the Head-Up Display or ASPC stand out, a new driving assistant which, in low-grip and low-speed conditions, controls both the accelerator and the brake, enabling safe and precise progress in practically any situation. It is also possible to equip the XE with a lane change assistant, which works thanks to a stereoscopic camera located at the top of the bumper.

This camera also allows other systems such as traffic sign recognition or the emergency braking assistant, capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop if an imminent collision is detected at low speed. The entertainment provision is also expanded with the arrival of systems such as “InControl”, which allows the smartphone to be controlled from the dashboard touchscreen.

Source | Jaguar