Jaguar XE review (02/08/2014)
Jaguar says that the new car, which will rival such as the Audi A4, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class in the compact executive saloon segment, will redefine the standard in its class.
Designed around Jaguar’s modular vehicle architecture, the XE is the only car in the class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque, with lightweight aluminium accounting for 75% of the structure.
The company says this milestone in body engineering, a product of Jaguar’s world-leading expertise in high-volume production of aluminium vehicles, will ensure the XE combines outstanding design with benchmark levels of ride and handling.
Indeed Jaguar claim the XE will be the true driver’s car in the segment, but we’ll reserve judgement on that until we see it.
The Jaguar XJ, XK and F-Type have also all been developed using exceptionally stiff bonded and riveted aluminium structures.
The weight reduction realised ensures that the XE is the most fuel-efficient Jaguar yet with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on the NEDC combined cycle of over 75 mpg and less than 100 g/km respectively.
“The Jaguar XE body is light but also immensely strong with extremely high levels of torsional stiffness. We’ve made sure our aluminium-intensive body structure exceeds all global safety standards without compromising on vehicle design or refinement,” says Dr Mark White, Jaguar’s Chief Technical Specialist; Body Complete.
The Jaguar XE’s structure also delivers exceptional torsional stiffness. The light but strong architecture incorporates highly advanced suspension systems delivering what are claimed to be unparalleled levels of ride quality, handling and steering.
It is also the first car in the world to make use of a new grade of high strength aluminium called RC 5754 which has been developed specifically for the XE. This new alloy features a high level of recycled material and makes a significant contribution to Jaguar’s goal of using 75 per cent recycled material by 2020.
On the engine front, The Jaguar XE will be available with the F-Type’s V6 engine when it goes on sale next year. Jaguar has also confirmed the 3.0-litre supercharged unit, which comes with either 335bhp or 375bhp, will be fitted with Jaguar’s advanced aluminium platform to underpin range-topping versions of the compact sports saloon.
Along with the F-Type’s V6 engine, the XE will also be sold with Jaguar’s new Ingenium engine family, a range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel powertrains capable of CO2 emissions as low as 100 g/km.
The new family of Ingenium four-cylinder engines will launch exclusively as a 2.0-litre diesel in the new XE saloon early next year. The new unit should allow for 70mpg-plus in the XE.
Designed and engineered in the UK, the XE will be the first Jaguar to be manufactured at a new purpose-built production facility at the company’s Solihull plant in the West Midlands in the UK.
The world premiere of the new Jaguar XE will be held in London on September 8.
