According to reports, Jaguar’s upcoming SUV has started
track testing at the Nürburgring. The SUV is based on a slightly smaller
version of the aluminium monocoque used for the Range Rover and Range
Rover Sport. Around 4.6m long, it’s expected that this architecture will
also be used for the new mid-range Discovery family model and for a
future Range Rover variant that will slot in between the Evoque and the
Range Rover Sport.
Jaguar is understood to be placing a performance emphasis on its
SUV, exploiting its natively rear-drive layout. It is likely to be
benchmarked against the Porsche Macan, which is currently regarded as
the best-handling SUV.
The Jaguar will have a number of advantages over the Porsche, not
least that it has the engine mounted well back in the engine bay, so a
50/50 weight distribution is likely.
Dubbed internally as a ‘sports crossover’, the SUV will be the
second model in the biggest new-model offensive in Jaguar’s history.
It’s a product programme that has to boost Jaguar’s annual sales well
into six figures and – in the medium term – well beyond 2,00,000 units
annually.
The production car is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s range of
home-grown Ingenium four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, a range
that promises to be flexible enough to offer low CO2 emissions in the
firm's upcoming XE and a top speed as high as 186mph in petrol form when
hooked up to twin turbochargers.
It’s not yet known whether the SUV will be offered in pure
rear-wheel drive form, but that’s a distinct possibility for the
lower-powered models, not least because it would benefit fuel economy.
PRAVEEN SHARMA
PGDM IST
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