F-Pace is a performance SUV with the same DNA of a sports car
Text & Test Driven by Hani Musthafa Photos: Flywheel
Jaguar – this British luxury car maker has always set the pace in the exquisite car market. The cars like XK120, my all time favourite Jag E-Type, XJs, XJ 220 are a few examples of the extreme machines from the past offered by Jaguar for the car freaks. Now, the Jaguar is marking a new footprint in the demanding market by introducing a luxury SUV cross-over, F-Pace. Finally when Jaguar decided to come out with a compact luxury vehicle, an SUV Crossover they continued two of their existing things; one is the platform and the other is design language. F-Pace built on the same platform, which is called IQ platform, the same base of their all-new XE sedan. And the design is the familiar Jaguar design language which has been introduced by Ian Callum. So, all those new Jaguar cars are having a very familiar design language which is also evident well on the new F-Pace. Inspired by the F-Type at the same time, the new jaguar F-Pace is a performance SUV that has the same DNA of a sports car. From the bonnet to bulge to the pronounced rear bunches, its powerful looks make it distinctive and give it a head turning road presence.
When we start talking about the design, we have a very familiar face up front which is well known from the new Jags like the XF and XE. You see an all blacked mesh grille and the very aggressive Jaguar emblem resting on it with confidence. It gets Jaguar’s signature ‘J’ Blade daytime running light that produce an intensity of light that is close to sunlight, helping your eyes to distinguish objects more easily and reducing fatigue. The huge front bumper and the air intakes incorporated into the machine is a clue to something vigorous. The fog lamp too has been beautifully attached beneath the air intakes. With an assertive front, imposing grille and sharp crease lines, F-Pace looks dynamic from every angle.
Coming on to the sides, the doors and outside mirrors share the colour of the body. F-Pace offers an extensive choice of lightweight, aerodynamically efficient alloy wheels, and offers a wide range of options from 18 inches to 20 inches – which perfectly complements the F-Pace’s massive presence. The aerodynamic performance is a key function of its body design and supports an impressive drag coefficient of Cd 0.34. The result being, F-Pace remains as sleek as it looks. The multi-spoke alloy wheels, flared wheel arches and a well sculpted shoulder line makes it look swift. An advanced level of aerodynamics reduces fuel consumption and wind noise adding to high stability and driver confidence. The serene lines imprinted on the door sides make for a more resplendent look. Elements as such, attract the younger audiences. Meanwhile, the black window frames help to diversify the look.
The rear is a clear give-away of its inspiration from F-Type with sleek tail lamps running along the width. Pronounced rear haunches enhances the F-Pace’s sporty character, inspired by the F-Type, hence forming a seductive backdrop for F-Pace’s high-intensity tail lights. The small rear window marks the rear look really raised up and athletic. A short spoiler, a sneak preview to a macho, racing machine while leaving no compromise to luxury. Altogether the rear is, in fact, massive and to me, that’s the most attractive part of the car. It doesn’t end there as on a practicality note, it offers a large boot space built well enough to accommodate all your belongings for a travel. The ski rails on top, sharp and thinner gives a mass appeal to this crossover SUV. The double exhaust pipes towards the rear add to the vibrant build. The pouncing emblem rests by the centre of the tailgate, giving a power-packed finish to the machine’s look.
F-Pace’s interior blends elegance and sportiness to create the latest in contemporary design. The interiors are luxurious and classy even for the fabric seats offered on the 2.0-litre F-Paces. Featuring contemporary British craftsmanship, handpicked premium materials, supple leathers and sophisticated finishes. On the equipment front, though, there is no compromise with everything from power seats to sunroof to touch-screen infotainment, driving modes etc all being standard. The higher trim levels get additional equipment including sportier bumpers, chrome packages, adaptive headlamps, larger wheels and expensive interior materials. Absorbing all the attention at the centre of the console is the 8-inch capacitive Touchscreen display that acts as a central hub for the navigation, audio and connectivity facilities. The instrument cluster comes with LCD dials and a cool blue illumination that does add to the renewed ambience. Meanwhile, the seats come with a refined leather coating that is sure to attract delight from the passengers. The steering wheel by the side comes with the prominent Jaguar emblem at the centre, and this does cut out a more distinctive aura for the region. The grained leather dressing for the wheel ensures a stronger hold when driving, while the paddle shifts and mounted controls make for a far more eased experience. A Navigation system with an SD Card-Based mapping feature, an In Control Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an HD radio facility, a Meridian Sound System and much more out of the world facilities have been included in the drive mix, and we can’t help but agree that few cars have ever offered more.
Mechanically, there’ll be two diesel engines on offer from the carmaker’s new Ingenium family. The first one is a 2.0-litre diesel motor which churns out 180bhp and develops 430Nm of peak torque. Jaguar claims that this version will do the 0-100 km/h sprint in 8.7 seconds and have a top speed of over 200 km/h. As for the second one, it will be a more powerful 3.0-litre V6 oil burner that will belt out a meaty 300bhp and 700Nm of torque. The claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time is an impressive 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 241 km/h. Both the engines will come mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and AWD (all-wheel drive) as well. Additionally, Jaguar India may soon bring in a 2.0-litre petrol Ingenium engine that will produce 240bhp.
Verdict: “Redefined design blended with an upgraded interior, loaded with features and latest technologies, powered by an efficient powertrain and cocooned by safety features”
There’s not a doubt that this company has mastered the art of formatting suspensions. Most of Jaguar vehicles are almost flawless in their drive mannerism. Firm disc brakes are rigged onto all the wheels; the braking capacity was more contained than we could have asked for. There is a minimal body roll that tends to bother the passengers, and occasionally, at tight swings, occupants are likely to be thrown around. Nevertheless, the bulky body manages to absorb most of the anomalies of the errant Indian roads, leaving just occasional twists and bumps to hinder the drive flow. The vehicle has also been programmed with some sophisticated drive modes, ensuring that stability is kept at the highest always. First, there is an Adaptive surface response technology that helps to keep the vehicle in a good groove on all road conditions. Next, a Torque of system optimises stability when braking and cornering. Also present is a Dynamic stability control, Engine drag torque control and Trailer stability assist system, all of which help to cement control when driving. The price range of the Jaguar F-Pace spans wide variety of vehicle segments. The 2.0-litres compete with the Mercedes GLE and the BMW X5 while the larger engined F-Pace looks to compete with the Porsche Macan and the GLE 450 AMG Coupe.
Digital Copy : https://goo.gl/E4YMnD