autoevolution
 

Jaguar XE Debuts at Paris, Pricing Announced, Ingenium Engine Lineup Detailed

After the Ford Mondeo-based X-Type fiasco, the British automaker finally made amends with its identity as a car brand with the launch of the new XE. Jaguar took the wraps off the compact executive sedan at this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, but also disclosed the pricing and the specifications of the Ingenium range of petrol and diesel mills.
Jaguar XE at the Paris Motor Show 86 photos
Photo: original photo by autoevolution
Jaguar XE S (profile)Jaguar XE S (wheel design)Jaguar XE S (wheel design)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (front)Jaguar XE S (specifications)Jaguar XE S (front grille design)Jaguar XE S (S badge)Jaguar XE S (S badge)Jaguar XE S (headlight design)Jaguar XE S (Jaguar logo)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (front three quarters)Jaguar XE S (profile)Jaguar XE S (profile)Jaguar XE S (profile)Jaguar XE S (profile)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear)Jaguar XE S (exhaust exits)Jaguar XE S (rear design)Jaguar XE S (rear)Jaguar XE S (tail lamp design)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear bumper in detail)Jaguar XE S (rear Jaguar logo)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (rear three quarters)Jaguar XE S (wheel design)Jaguar XE (interior)Jaguar XE (Ingenium engine)Jaguar XE (Ingenium engine)Jaguar XE (interior design)Jaguar XE (manual gearbox knob)Jaguar XE (manual gearbox knob)Jaguar XE (interior)Jaguar XE (rear seats)Jaguar XE (dashboard design)Jaguar XE (InControl infotainment touchscreen)Jaguar XE (air conditioning control)Jaguar XE (manual gearbox knob)Jaguar XE (manual gearbox knob)Jaguar XE (steering wheel)Jaguar XE (steering wheel)Jaguar XE (rear legroom)Jaguar XE (front seats)Jaguar XE (front seats)Jaguar XE (interior)Jaguar XE (rotary dial shifter for the eight-speed automatic gearbox)Jaguar XE (rotary dial shifter for the eight-speed automatic gearbox)Jaguar XE (rotary dial shifter for the eight-speed automatic gearbox)Jaguar XE (interior)Jaguar XE (interior)Jaguar XE (dashboard)Jaguar XE (dashboard)Jaguar XE (transmission tunnel)Jaguar XE (InControl infotainment)Jaguar XE (InControl infotainment)Jaguar XE (steering wheel)Jaguar XE (rotary dial shifter for the eight-speed automatic gearbox)Jaguar XE (InControl infotainment)Jaguar XE (InControl infotainment)Jaguar XE (steering wheel buttons)Jaguar XE (steering wheel buttons)Jaguar XE (steering wheel Jaguar logo)Jaguar XE (instrument cluster)Jaguar XE (instrument cluster)Jaguar XE (instrument cluster)Jaguar XE (driver's door panel)Jaguar XE (Meridian audio speaker)Jaguar XE (driver's door panel)Jaguar XE (thread plate)Jaguar XE (indicator stalk)Jaguar XE (boot space)Jaguar XE (boot space)Jaguar XE (boot)Jaguar XE (boot space)Jaguar XE (boot space)Jaguar XE (boot space)
It's necessary to point out the all-new Jaguar XE wears the X760 codename. Its styling is half new and half XF, but the bottom line is Jaguar has thrown all its know-how into developing the first compact executive model since the 2009 model year X-Type. It's the first Jag to use a newly-developed modular aluminum architecture, severing the British company from its Ford-derived platform past. Only the larger Jaguar XF still uses a Ford-developed platform.

Ingenium engine family. What's it all about?

Economical, refined and punchy. That's how one can describe the Ingenium powerplants in a nutshell. As it happens, this family of motors replaces the old guzzlers, a further step into forgetting the brand's past under the Blue Oval's control. The Ingenium range consists of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, benefitting from direct injection, variable valve timing, stop/start and smart regenerative charging.

Mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a slick eight-speed automatic, the Ingenium range is taken by 2-liter mills. Starting with a 2-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel that's available in two states of tune (163 PS and 380 Nm or 180 PS and 430 Nm), there's also a 2-liter four-cylinder petrol mill, available with either 200 PS and 280 Nm or 240 PS and 340 Nm.

The 163 PS version of the diesel-fed Ingenium makes the XE the most fuel-efficient Jaguar ever, achieving 75 U.K. mpg (62.4 U.S. mpg / 3.76 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers) and 99g/km CO2 on the European combined cycle. The most powerful model will come in the form of the Jaguar XE S, which is propelled by the supercharged V6 engine one might also find in the F-Type sports car. 3 liters of displacement, a twin-vortex Roots-type supercharger and 340 PS / 450 Nm sent to the wheels via an eight-speed auto translate to a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 4.9 seconds.

All Surface Progress Control and chassis tech

Or ASPC for short, that's how Jaguar is marketing its new traction control system, developed to keep the rear-wheel drive Jaguar XE in check even when the road is covered with snow. Ideal for low-grip surfaces and developed with the input of Land Rover, ASPC can electronically gain traction with far less drama than the driver can achieve. The system functions between 3.6 km/h and 30 km/h and is activated using the cruise control switches on the steering wheel.

If electronics aren't your sort of thing, you'll be happy to find out that the XE is very neat mechanically-wise. While the chassis is almost entirely aluminum, the XE has a body shell that uses 75+ percent aluminum for extra rigidity, lower weight and better handling. As for the suspension, the front employs a double wishbone setup, together with an Integral Link rear axle. All XEs get electric power steering.

Pricing, trim levels and equipment

The entry-level Jaguar XE SE comes with cloth seats, gloss black door panel trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, a touchscreen infotainment system (including satellite navigation and DAB digital radio), as well as cruise control and a multi-function softgrain leather-wrapped steering wheel. Jaguar will charge you £29,775 for the SE trimmed XE with the 2-liter turbo diesel with 163 PS on tap and a six-speed manual gearbox.

There's also a Prestige specification level that adds Taurus leather with contrasting stitching, heated front seats, Phosphor Blue ambient lighting and brushed aluminum bits and bobs throughout the cabin. With the previously mentioned powertrain option, the XE Prestige costs £30,775 (OTR) in the U.K.

Step up to the R-Sport trim level and £32,325 will buy you perforated leather, more aluminum trim, R-Sport tread plates and sports steering wheel, as well as a subtle rear spoiler, an R-Sport body kit, a sportier suspension, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, gloss black window surrounds and 18-inch two-tone lightweight alloy wheels. Pretty neat.

If you need more luxury, go for the Portfolio trim level. For £32,975, this spec adds new colour options for the premium softgrain Windsor leather with herringbone perforations. The instrument panel also features split upper and lower coverings in two colours, complete with twin-needle stitching. This trim level adds embossed finish aluminum, a powerful Meridian audio system and 10-way power front seats.

Jaguar XE S - F the Germans!

If the range-topping Portfolio Auto with the 240 PS 2L petrol engine isn't enough, then you're left with what we'd call the cream of the crop - the Jaguar XE S. In addition to the F-Type-sourced supercharged 3-liter V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, this performance-orientated sedan costs £44,870 and boasts with a race-inspired interior. S badging inside and out, meshed aluminium for the door finishers and the Riva Hoop dashboard, as well as a gloss black centre console are also added.

Exterior enhancements include sportier bumpers, enlarged air intakes, a rear spoiler, side sill extensions, red brake calipers and 19-inch alloy wheels. The S model also benefits from luxuries such as keyless entry and a power-operated boot lid.

Anything else worth mentioning?

Indeed. The laggy infotainment of yesteryear is gone and in its place comes an InControl unit, standard on all trim levels. A forward facing stereo camera is also available, enabling autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

In terms of hi-tech kit, both the Range Rover Evoque and new Jaguar XE debut a laser head-up display, which projects driver and sat nav information onto the windscreen. A Wi-Fi hot spot is also available, as well as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lots of other bits and bobs.

Jaguar will launch the XE in the U.K. in 2015, but the United States of America will get in early 2016.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories