Jaguar reveals more XE secrets

An all-new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that consumes less than 3.2L/100km and an all-new 75 per cent aluminium body are the latest headline-grabbing figures Jaguar has announced in the lead-up to the reveal of its all-new XE in London on September 8.

In the second of four technology previews Jaguar will present for its belated replacement for the unloved X-Type mid-size sedan, the British brand says the XE's 'Ingenium' four-cylinder oil-burner will return more than 75mpg (3.14L/100km) and emit less than 100g/km of CO2 on the EU combined cycle.

With the exception of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz C 350 Plug-in Hybrid sedan, which will employ a four-cylinder turbo-petrol/electric powertrain that Benz says will emit less than 50g/km (and around 2.0L/100km), that would make the most frugal XE more efficient than its most direct rivals in the Merc C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

Earlier this month, when its Australian branch also confirmed it will be the brand's top-selling model, Jaguar claimed the XE will deliver class-leading dynamics, refinement and technology thanks to its F-TYPE-derived double-wishbone front and new Integral Link rear suspension, new electric power steering and world-first All Surface Progress Control systems.

Now it has revealed that aluminium will make up to three-quarters of its new body structure, which is based on "Jaguar's fifth-generation bonded and riveted aluminium technology".

Jaguar says the XE will be the first vehicle in the world to employ a new high-strength aluminium alloy developed especially for it and called RC5754. It contains a high proportion of recycled aluminium and plays a large part in Jaguar's goal to use 75 per cent recycled material by 2020.

"The Jaguar XE body uses over 75 per cent aluminium content, which far exceeds any other car in its class," said Dr Mark White, Jaguar's Chief Technical Specialist; Body Complete.

"This gives us a body structure with unrivalled low weight. It's 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."

Jaguar says the aluminium-intensive body and suspension of the XE, which will be the first vehicle manufactured at a new purpose-built production facility at the company's Solihull plant in the UK, is central to its "benchmark levels of ride and handling".

"It will be the true driver's car in the segment," says Jaguar of the XE, which joins the XJ, XK and F-TYPE in its use of an aerospace-inspired bonded and riveted aluminium structure.

Meantime, more details have emerged of the new clean-sheet Ingenium engine family that will power the XE sedan's rear wheels.

Like BMW engines, Jaguar's new powerplant features fixed cylinder dimensions displacing 500cc, thereby making all four-cylinder versions 2.0-litre.

However, engineers have told Autocar that, again like BMW, 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 3.0-litre straight-six versions are possible.

Ingenium engines will employ both single and double turbocharging, with the most powerful version claimed to deliver the performance of a V6 while weighing 80kg less.

At 150kg, the XE's 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is claimed to have 17 per cent less internal friction than Jaguar's current 2.2 diesel, thanks in part to low-friction crankshaft bearing faces.

The cam chain is mounted on the rear of the engine against the flywheel housing and is expected to last the service life of the engine, while balancer shafts running on roller bearings cut friction losses and deliver smoothness approaching six-cylinder levels.

Following its global reveal in London on September 8, the XE will make its world public debut at the Paris motor show on October 2, before being launched in Europe later that month and in Australia around mid-2015.