Photo: SB-Medien
Jaguar Land Rover may cut some models due to falling profits and Brexit, but the XE sedan is safe for now. A mid-life facelift for one of the sportiest small premium sedans is on the way, and we caught up with several prototypes undergoing testing in the UK.
Competition is at an all-time high in this segment. We have a brand new BMW 3 Series, the mid-life facelift for the C-Class and Audi working on the Audi A4 as well. Even though it's nowhere near as popular as its crossovers, Jaguar has decided to invest in an updated XE, which will come out next year.
CO2 emissions are significant when UK buyers consider a new car, especially when fleets for businesses are concerned. The XE facelift won't see any drastic improvements in this regard, but a new 48V mild hybrid system is expected to increase the efficiency of Jaguar's 2-liter engines. That's about all we expect, as the PHEV system being developed for the Evoque II probably isn't a good fit for this sedan.
Cosmetically, the 2020 model year redesign isn't drastic. We have refreshed headlights and subtle bumper upgrades. The infamous Project 8 seems to influence the restructuring of the sports model's kit. Chassis and suspension revisions could be introduced as well.
It's believed that the XE will rely exclusively on two-liter engines since the supercharged V6 was recently dropped. Jaguar is working on an Ingenium-series inline-6 engine, but that doesn't seem like a good fit for the entry-level sedan.
For the interior, the latest rumors suggest a new layout inspired the I-Pace, Jaguar's first electric car. This implies that the Touch Pro Duo infotainment unit may be offered as an upgrade.
The XE is the right car at the wrong time. Jaguar waited too long to develop a 3 Series rival. And due to company politics and the rising tide of SUVs, it's unlikely that it will see a second generation.
CO2 emissions are significant when UK buyers consider a new car, especially when fleets for businesses are concerned. The XE facelift won't see any drastic improvements in this regard, but a new 48V mild hybrid system is expected to increase the efficiency of Jaguar's 2-liter engines. That's about all we expect, as the PHEV system being developed for the Evoque II probably isn't a good fit for this sedan.
Cosmetically, the 2020 model year redesign isn't drastic. We have refreshed headlights and subtle bumper upgrades. The infamous Project 8 seems to influence the restructuring of the sports model's kit. Chassis and suspension revisions could be introduced as well.
It's believed that the XE will rely exclusively on two-liter engines since the supercharged V6 was recently dropped. Jaguar is working on an Ingenium-series inline-6 engine, but that doesn't seem like a good fit for the entry-level sedan.
For the interior, the latest rumors suggest a new layout inspired the I-Pace, Jaguar's first electric car. This implies that the Touch Pro Duo infotainment unit may be offered as an upgrade.
The XE is the right car at the wrong time. Jaguar waited too long to develop a 3 Series rival. And due to company politics and the rising tide of SUVs, it's unlikely that it will see a second generation.
Google News