The all-new Jaguar F-Pace has been engineered from the outset to deliver the driving experience that sets all Jaguars apart from the competition. Jaguar took everything that gives its sedans and sports cars class-leading dynamics and applied them to the F-Pace, its first ever SUV.
Built on Jaguar’s lightweight aluminium architecture, the F-Pace combines a sports car driving experience, all-wheel drive and a spacious interior in a lightweight package. When equipped with Jaguar’s 3,0-litre supercharged V6 engine, producing 280 kW, the F-Pace can sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 5,5 seconds.
The light, stiff body structure of the new F-Pace comprises 80% aluminium, and is the only aluminium-intensive monocoque in the segment. Jaguar engineers have also taken additional steps to save weight, including the use of a composite tailgate and magnesium in parts such as the cross-car beam. State-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to ensure that the F-Pace has a drag coefficient of only 0,34, helping to reduce fuel consumption and improve refinement.
The result of this intensive engineering is a body that boasts high torsional stiffness, allowing the F-Type-derived double wishbone front suspension and sophisticated integral link rear suspension to perform even better. Together with torque vectoring as standard and an electric power assisted steering system tuned to give the best possible feel and response, the F-Pace sets the benchmark for ride and handling.
For even better ride and handling, the F-Pace can be specified with an optional, electronically controlled Adaptive Dynamics system. This measures body and wheel movement 100 and 500 times a second respectively, ensuring optimum damping forces in all conditions. This can be combined with Configurable Dynamics: a system that allows individual settings for the throttle, automatic transmission, steering, and, where fitted, the Adaptive Dynamics system.
The new F-Pace’s torque on-demand all-wheel drive system is Jaguar’s most sophisticated yet, and has the highest torque capacity. It features the advanced, in-house control system first developed for F-Type AWD: Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD). IDD preserves rear-wheel drive agility and handling character but can seamlessly transfer torque to the front wheels to exploit the performance benefits of extra traction, on all surfaces and in all weathers.
While the F-Pace offers thrilling performance on road, the AWD system is designed to operate in even more challenging conditions thanks to technologies like Adaptive Surface Response (ASR). Developed from Land Rover’s patented, award-winning Terrain Response technology, ASR identifies the type of surface and optimises the vehicle systems to for use in conditions such as deep snow and gravel.
This is complemented by All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), which automatically controls the throttle and the brakes when driving off road. This enables the vehicle to pull away smoothly and maintain a set speed, between 3,6 km/h and 32 km/h, while the driver just has to steer.
For drivers who want similar results but still want to use the accelerator pedal, there’s Low-Friction Launch (LFL). This function uses a very progressive throttle map, making the vehicle easier to control, and the new F-Pace is the first Jaguar to offer it. Further aiding off-road capabilities are short overhangs, front and rear, enabling maximum approach and departure angles of 25,5° and 26,0° respectively. The ground clearance of 213 mm is another advantage and one made all the more effective because the underfloor is also as smooth as possible to reduce aerodynamic drag. And when the architecture was developed, ECUs and other electronic modules were packaged as high up as possible, allowing a remarkable 525 mm wading depth for the F-Pace.
To ensure that it also delivers on all surfaces and in all weathers, the vehicle has been subjected to the most demanding test programme imaginable, including the searing heat of Dubai and the freezing cold of Northern Sweden. Testing has been performed over more than 400 000 kilometres in these two regions alone, where ambient temperatures can fall as low as -40°C and reach as high as 50°C. Going to such measures ensures that everything from tyres to climate control systems to infotainment touchscreens function perfectly in extreme conditions, and is fundamental to Jaguar’s focus on ever-higher standards of quality and durability.
Sending power to all four wheels is Jaguar’s seamless-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, standard on all derivatives. Power comes from a selection of petrol and diesel engines. The ultra-efficient 2,0-litre Ingenium diesel engine produces 132 kW and an impressive 430 N.m of torque, allowing it to deliver consumption as low as 5,3 L/100 km on the combined cycle. Also available is a 3,0-litre turbodiesel engine, with outputs of 221 kW and 700 N.m – resulting in a 0-100 km/h sprint of just 6,2 seconds. A choice of two 3,0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engines is also available. Outputs of 250 kW and 450 N.m or 280 kW and 450 N.m allow 0-100 km/h sprint times of 5,8 and 5,5 seconds, respectively, while top speeds are electronically limited to 250 km/h.
The new F-Pace also features a host of driver assistance technologies to make everyday driving less stressful and more pleasurable. Adaptive Cruise Control allows the F-Pace to automatically match its cruise speed to the vehicle ahead and maintain a safe following distance.
Park Assist complements the built-in camera systems to by using sensors to find empty parking spots and autonomously manoeuvre the F-Pace in even the trickiest situations. Meanwhile, Reverse Traffic Detection warns drivers of approaching traffic when exiting parking spots – issuing visual and audible signals to warn drivers of hazards.
The Jaguar F-Pace is priced from R776 800.
