Jaguar News: Jaguar Details What the XE for North America Will Feature

[William Maley]

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While North America has to wait till next spring for the Jaguar XE to come, Jaguar has detailed some of the specs for North American-Spec XE.

First off, lets talk about engines. The base will be XE 20d which will feature Jaguar's new Ingenium turbocharged 2.0L diesel four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar quotes a 0-60 MPH time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 140 MPH. Then there is the XE 35t which features a 3.0L Supercharged V6 with 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 MPH takes 4.9 seconds and is limited to 155 MPH.

No matter which engine you choose, a ZF eight-speed automatic will be the only transmission. Rear-wheel drive will come standard, while all-wheel drive is an option.

There will be three levels on offer - Premium, Prestige, and R-Sport - along with Jaguar's new InControl infotainment system.

Pricing will be announced closer to the U.S. launch.

Source: Jaguar

Press Release is on Page 2

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Jaguar XE All-New Compact Sports Sedan to Expand Jaguar U.S. Lineup in 2016

• All-new Jaguar XE sports sedan to arrive in U.S. Jaguar showrooms in spring, 2016
  
• Lineup to include Jaguar XE 20d and 35t models each in Premium, Prestige and R-Sport trim levels and available in RWD or AWD
  
• XE 35t will feature a 340hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph1
  
• XE 20d will feature high-efficiency 180hp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel
  
• Front engine, longitudinal rear wheel drive layout, with capability of accepting all-wheel drive
  
• New Jaguar InControl® infotainment system features an 8 inch capacitive touch screen
  
• Features Intelligent Active Driver Assistance technologies
  
• The XE will launch in global markets in 2015 and in North America in 2016
  
• Pricing to be announced at a later date
  

(MAHWAH, N.J.) - April 27, 2015 - The Jaguar lineup will significantly expand in 2016 with the addition of the brand's all new, aluminum intensive Jaguar XE compact sports sedan which will join the modern Jaguar sedan lineup alongside the all new Jaguar XF and Jaguar XJ sedans.

A true driver's car, the Jaguar XE redefines the concept of the sports sedan thanks to its advanced lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior, and outstanding ride and handling. The XE goes on sale in 2015 in global markets and in 2016 in the United States and Canada.

Manufacturing of the aluminium-intensive Jaguar XE occurs at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant in an all-new facility. Part of a £1.5bn investment, this flexible, purpose-built site will create 1,700 UK jobs.

The Jaguar XE 35t model provides responsiveness and refinement from a supercharged 3.0-liter V6. Generating 340hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, this engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift controls. Accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, the XE 35t has an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph¹.

The fuel economy leader will be the Jaguar XE 20d powered by the company's new Ingenium 2.0 liter diesel powertrain delivering 180 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque. Mated with the eight-speed automatic transmission, the Jaguar XE 20d will be the brand's most fuel efficient model (EPA figures to be released at later date).

The Jaguar XE will be offered with a lighter version of the ZF 8-speed automatic used in the rest of the Jaguar range: this benchmark eight-speed transmission is controlled using the Jaguar rotary shifter and steering wheel shift paddles.

The aluminum-intensive Jaguar XE is the first model developed from the new JLR modular vehicle architecture. The long wheelbase and low seating position enable perfect proportions and a streamlined, coupe-like profile. The R-Sport trim level models' large front air intakes, satin chrome side vents, gloss black side window surrounds, side sills, discreet rear spoiler and optional 20-inch forged alloy wheels reinforce its' performance potential.

The cabin offers outstanding levels of comfort and spaciousness. Exquisite materials and finishes, combined with traditional Jaguar craftsmanship make this an interior without compare.

The Jaguar XE is equipped with electric power steering. This system is tuned to provide responsiveness and excellent feel, and offers improved efficiency over hydraulic systems.

Compelling design

The Jaguar XE was developed in parallel with the new modular architecture. The architecture unlocks design possibilities that did not exist before because the core dimensions were determined by design and engineering working together from the very beginning, under a philosophy of 'anything we can imagine, we can create.

This makes it possible to realize perfect proportions: short front and rear overhangs and dynamic, cab-rearward stance. The architecture also enables the XE to feature both a low, sporty driving position and a sleek, coupe-like profile.

The strongly-sculpted hood creates a taut, muscular appearance. The rising waistline adds to the sense of movement, while the form of the rear quarters takes inspiration from the F-TYPE Coupe. The signature J-Blade daytime running lights are a recognizable Jaguar design element. In the rear lights, a horizontal line intersecting a circle is a powerful styling feature inherited from the iconic E-Type.

Jaguar has a rich history of producing stunning, aerodynamically-efficient cars. The new Jaguar XE continues the tradition of uncompromised form and function. This achievement is the result of 1,200 computational fluid dynamics simulations and million hours of processor time.

"Our mission was to create an exciting and dynamic design clearly reflecting the XE positioning as a serious driver's car. The cab-rearward proportions and tight packaging achieve that and give the XE the appearance of movement even when it's standing still. It bears a strong family resemblance to the F-TYPE and will stand apart in the crowd."

- Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design

The spacious cabin cocoons front seat passengers with a deep center console which creates a cockpit-like feel. The F-TYPE-style instrument panel dials and the cluster needle sweep on start-up further emphasize the sports sedan attributes of the Jaguar XE.

Front and rear seat occupants enjoy generous amounts of head and legroom - the XE proves that sleek, streamlined styling and interior space need not be mutually exclusive; fine-grain leathers and details such as contrasting twin-needle stitching give the cabin a bespoke quality. The choice of gloss black, textured aluminum, and contemporary wood veneers enhance the luxurious, hand-crafted feel. Available ambient lighting in a range of up to 10 colors adds to the sense of occasion.

Aluminum-intensive unibody

Jaguar is highly experienced in the use of aluminum construction. The expertise in working with this lightweight material has culminated in the revolutionary body structure of the new Jaguar XE. It is the first model designed around this all-new modular architecture.

Much of the aluminum is high-strength, 6000-series alloy. The body sides are a perfect example: these complex pressings are formed in one piece, and what would once have been 1.5mm gauge sheet has been reduced to just 1.1mm.

Sustainability is a big part of the Jaguar aluminum story. Recycling this highly valuable material delivers impressive savings in overall CO₂ emissions and the new XE uses RC 5754 - an aluminum alloy made predominantly from recycled material. Future models will also use RC 5754 and this breakthrough will help Jaguar towards its goal of using 75 percent recycled material by 2020. The use of recycled aluminum reduces demand for primary aluminum, saving energy.

Riveting and bonding the lightweight body structure of the Jaguar XE consumes less energy than traditional spot welding. The XE also contains 101lbs. of recycled plastics and renewable materials, further reducing its environmental impact.

"The XE is as strong and light as it could possibly be thanks to exhaustive analysis and by bringing the latest engineering techniques to bear on its design. It has been challenging to accomplish but the XE structure is absolutely at the cutting edge of what is achievable today." -Dr. Mark White, Chief Technical Specialist, Jaguar; Body Complete

Chassis

The new Jaguar XE features a sophisticated double wishbone front suspension. The aluminum front spindles are light and stiff - forged from cast blanks using a patented production process while the rear suspension features an integral link system. This system delivers lateral and longitudinal stiffness for precise handling and a supple ride. Aluminum has been used extensively in the suspension, minimizing weight.

Offering incredible tuning possibilities and greater efficiency than traditional hydraulic systems, electric power steering (EPAS) will be standard on the XE.

Powertrain

For customers demanding ultimate performance and an exhilarating engine note from idle right up to the redline there's the Jaguar XE 35t model, which shares its supercharged 340hp 3.0-liter V6 with the acclaimed F-TYPE.

Direct injection and fully variable valve timing optimize power and torque throughout the rev range. The 90 degree cylinder bank angle provides space for the twin-vortex Roots-type supercharger, a balancer shaft ensures the engine runs smoothly.

Developing 340hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, the V6 provides the Jaguar XE 35t with exceptional performance: 0-60 mph takes just 4.9 seconds, and top speed is electronically-limited to 155 mph¹.

Jaguar is launching the new XE with an equally new engine family - Ingenium. The first Ingenium engine in the Jaguar XE in North America is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with 180hp.

The Ingenium engine family's advanced modular design will provide petrol and diesel derivatives and was started from a clean-sheet to deliver performance, efficiency and refinement without compromise. This advanced in-house powertrain will be manufactured at the new JLR Engine Manufacturing Center near Wolverhampton in the UK. Proven over 2 million miles of real-world testing, Ingenium is the future of the low-CO₂ powertrain strategy at Jaguar Land Rover and is engineered to meet the most stringent exhaust emissions legislation worldwide.

"The new generation of Ingenium diesel engines are wholly designed and manufactured in-house at our new engine plant in Wolverhampton. No opportunity has been missed in ensuring their design is right on the cutting edge of technical advancement to achieve the highest levels of efficiency, performance and refinement."

Ron Lee, Group Chief Powertrain Engineer, Jaguar Cars

All Ingenium engines, developed from scratch by Jaguar engineers, are based around a deep-skirt aluminum cylinder block featuring thin-wall, press-fit cast iron liners: these offer the best balance of weight, surface finish, and robustness.

The engine's split-cooling system, mapped thermostat, and fully variable mechanical water pump enable standing water in the block while coolant circulates through the crossflow channels in the cylinder head. So the engine warms up more quickly, reducing friction and therefore fuel consumption.

Parasitic losses have been cut in other ways too: the electronically-controlled oil pump matches its flow rate according to engine speed, load and temperature, and switchable piston cooling jets operate only when needed.

Variable valve timing has been a feature on all Jaguar petrol engines for many years, and now the technology is making its way into the diesel too: the Ingenium units benefit from a cam phaser on the exhaust side. Variable exhaust valve timing enables more rapid catalyst heating, thereby minimizing harmful emissions during the critical warm-up phase.

Fuel is fed to the combustion chambers by a 1,800bar solenoid common rail system. Key attributes are low noise, high efficiency and excellent mixture formation.

Ingenium diesels are characterized by the rapid build-up of torque from very low engine speeds, enabled by highly efficient variable geometry turbochargers. Maximum torque is maintained over a wide rev range, ensuring instantaneous response and strong acceleration whenever the driver demands it.

Weighing only 138kg (304lb), this all-aluminum engine feature twin counter-rotating balancer shafts to cancel-out second order forces, offering the smoothness and power of a naturally aspirated six-cylinder but in a smaller, more efficient package.

An innovative feature is the sheet metal turbine housing integrated into the air-gap insulated exhaust manifold. As well as saving weight, the assembly's reduced thermal mass means that the catalyst reaches light-off temperature more quickly, reducing emissions. The low-inertia turbine wheel delivers outstanding transient response.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance features

The new light and stiff body structure of the Jaguar XE has been engineered to meet demanding legislative and consumer crash test requirements. Complementing the outstanding levels of protection it offers is a suite of advanced driver assistance systems designed to help and support the driver.

The Jaguar XE will be equipped with All Surface Progress Control (ASPC)². This all-new system, developed with the input of decades of Jaguar Land Rover experience in off-road traction systems, works like a low-speed cruise control. Functioning between 2 mph and 19 mph, ASPC is designed to precisely control the brake system and powertrain to deliver optimum traction in slippery conditions.

Projecting high-contrast color images onto the windshield, the optional laser heads-up display (HUD) technology provides the driver with information such as speed and navigation instructions.

Jaguar is one of the first manufacturers in the segment to use stereo camera technology. When fitted, this sensor is the 'eyes' of the optional autonomous emergency braking system for the Jaguar XE, providing measurements of speed and distance of objects ahead, and can initiate full braking to avoid or mitigate a collision. The stereo camera also performs traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning functions.

The XE also offers systems such as adaptive cruise control, closing vehicle sensing, blind spot monitoring, semi-automated parallel and perpendicular parking, and reverse traffic detection².

All-new infotainment system

The all-new Jaguar InControl® infotainment system offered on the XE provides the latest technologies to connect the car, driver and the outside world. At its heart is an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen featuring a clear, intuitive interface and fast response times³.

InControl Touch® supports Bluetooth®, audio streaming and USB connectivity. The Jaguar XE can also be fitted with an SD card-based navigation system which allows easy upgrades of map data, and voice control using plain speech gives access to any level of the system, without navigating through menus, so drivers can keep their eyes on the road³. Both systems feature a user-friendly map which can be utilized by touch and directed by pinch-to-zoom.

Smartphones are changing the way people interact with the world around them and the new Jaguar XE ensures that drivers can stay connected. Jaguar InControl Apps® allows users to seamlessly access and control smartphone apps through the vehicle's touchscreen³.

Jaguar InControl Remote® functionality allows users of iOS® and Android™ smartphones to connect to the car remotely to control car functions. These include seven-day timed pre-setting of the vehicle's climate control system, locking or unlocking the doors, or remote heating or cooling the cabin through engine start.

The new Jaguar XE will be available with two Meridian™ audio systems. These superb systems are the latest product of the long-standing partnership between Jaguar and British audio experts Meridian. Unique algorithms guarantee the best possible sound reproduction and tailor the experience to the interior's acoustics. Available systems range from 380 watt, 11-speaker systems to 825 watt, 14-speaker systems equipped with stereo and surround sound processors.

Further details, pricing and specifications of the Jaguar XE North American model line will be announced closer to the vehicles launch in 2016.

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[smk4565]

Why not just put a "d" badge on the diesel cars, and an "S" badge on the Supercharged V6.  Then if they do a 2 liter gas engine they can put no badge on it.  Sort of like how the F-type has Base, S, and R.

 

I do like the engines though, the diesel should post high mpg and the V6 out powers everything but the C400.  The performance is there.  I wonder if the pricing will be competitive or if they'll want over $50k for a V6.

[Drew Dowdell]

I hope they are just going to be XE and not XE20D and XE35T.....  am I buying a car or an assembly part number?

[smk4565]

I don't think the interior is very good on this car, it looks really bland.  I bet they overprice it like the XF is.  When the XF came out you got the 4.2 liter V8 for E-class V6 money, I think it was actually $2,000 less than an E350 at around $49k.  There was a value equation in play there.  Now a 4 cylinder XF is $51k and the interior hasn't really changed since 2009.  That doesn't seem like a good deal to trade a V8 for a I-4 and the price went up.

 

I bet when they price the diesel over $40k and $50k for the V6, and then people will go buy a 3-series because it is cheaper and a proven commodity.

[G. David Felt]

Jag just does nothing for me. They have really lost their mojo.

[Drew Dowdell]

I think I have XE pictures from this year's NY Auto Show around here somewhere.  I'll see if I can find them.

[regfootball]

XE center stack and continental center stack have the same blocky squarish deal going on

[balthazar]

No one buys Jags in the U.S. - they're a niche player that's just not competitive in the minds of consumers.

They could bring out a 400 HP 4-cyl and it wouldn't make any difference.