Jaguar says its new E-Pace will soon be offered with what it describes as a “cost-effective and efficient” 147 kW petrol engine.
This turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the British brand’s Ingenium family is already available to order from local dealerships, although its official introduction is set down for October 2018.
The 147 kW model completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 8,2 seconds, delivering claimed fuel economy of 8,2 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 186 g/km.
Although local pricing has yet to be confirmed, the new model is set to be positioned below the P250 (currently the cheapest petrol model, starting at R681 831), which churns out 183 kW.
Other impending updates to the E-Pace range include “self-learning” Smart Settings technology, which recognises the approaching driver, based on both a key fob and smartphone Bluetooth signal. The vehicle then adjusts its seat, climate control and infotainment system based on the driver’s normal preferences.
Over time, Jaguar says, algorithms tailor settings based on time, location, weather and behaviour patterns – for example, pre-heating the steering wheel and seats on a cold day or changing the media source on a particular day of the week or time of day. Up to eight profiles can be set up on the vehicle.
A so-called “Intelligent Phone Reminder” function will also tell the driver if they forget their smartphone, while the predictive call list learns patterns of phone use to cue up popular contacts at the appropriate time. Smart Settings will be offered as part of the Connect Pro Pack, which also includes a 4G WiFi hotspot, Pro Services and Navigation Pro.
Another update comes in the form of “Adaptive Dynamics”, which uses continuously variable damper technology with a triple-tube design and externally mounted hydraulic valves to provide what Jaguar describes as a “greater scope to tune the balance between handling responses and body control”.
