Jaguar stiffens E-PACE for resolved dynamics

Jaguar's E-PACE is set to be the proverbial cat among the pigeons when it arrives in Australia two months from now, delivering driveability and performance to match the best of its rivals.

As a starting point for the vehicle's development, engineers tweaked the D8 platform for optimal stiffness in the E-PACE application.

"It's the platform that was designed for the Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport, which we've adapted," Alan Volkaerts, Jaguar E-PACE Vehicle Line Director, told motoring.com.au during the launch of the E-PACE in Corsica earlier this week.

"We've specifically designed and tuned it, knowing that we wanted to deliver a Jaguar. We knew that we wanted the vehicle to be stiffer...

"When we designed the front subframe, for example – on Evoque it's quite compliant; it's got lots of rubber bushes for comfort – we've designed it for stiffer ride. The rear axle, actually, we took from the F-PACE. We wanted to deliver the same driving dynamics as the F-PACE... so it's kind of a hybrid really.

"It's predominantly steel, but the hood, the roof and the tailgate are aluminium. The instrument panel is magnesium alloy, for example, and from a technology point of view we try to cram as much as we can in."

Despite the use of lightweight materials, the E-PACE still ends up at 1926kg for the heaviest variant – the diesel-engined E-PACE D240. On paper, that's roughly 200kg heavier than the Audi Q3 TDI Sport quattro. But the key point there is the Audi's figure is a tare mass.

To illustrate the difference, the federal government's tare mass for the E-PACE D240 is 1818kg – less than 100kg more than the Audi. Yet the E-PACE is slightly longer and significantly wider than the Q3.

Additionally the Jaguar has a heavier ZF nine-speed automatic transmission as standard – versus the seven-speed dual-clutch unit of the Q3. And the D240 variant is fitted as standard with Active Driveline – a sophisticated drive system also standard in the P300 (petrol) variant.

"It's the GKN system," says Volkaerts.

"It's the same system as in Evoque, but tuned for Jaguar, so we bias a bit more torque to the rear, just to give it a bit more of a Jaguar feel. It's got driveline disconnect... so we have the intelligent dynamic system in F-PACE; this is similar but subtly different, so you can actually disconnect the rear completely.

"If you cruise on the motorway, you can disconnect the rear and effectively it's a front-wheel drive car, which you don't get on the F-PACE Intelligent Dynamic System."

The Active Driveline system contributes significantly to the added weight of the D240 and P300 variants however – perhaps as much as 60kg.

To offset that, the Jaguar produces more power and torque than the Q3 from its sequentially turbocharged engine in the D240 variants. Try as much as 177kW and 500Nm, versus 135kW and 380Nm for the Q3.

And while the P300 petrol engine produces lower torque (400Nm) than the D240 diesel unit, it's the range topper for power, generating up to 221kW. The difference in power between the P300 engine and the P250 powerplant is "all engine management," according to Volkaerts, "the turbocharged configuration is the same."

The E-PACE offers slower alternatives to the D240 and P300 models, for those on a tighter budget.

"Not everyone wants performance, and some other people just like the looks and cruising around town," admits James Scrimshaw, Product Public Affairs Manager for Jaguar Land Rover Australia.

For those buyers, a full range of 'Ingenium' engines (all the same basic 2.0-litre four-cylinder architecture) powers the exclusively automatic/all-wheel drive E-PACE range, starting with a diesel, the D150 variant, priced $2400 lower than the next nearest powertrain variants.

The D150 engine develops 110kW and 380Nm for a 0-100km/h time of 10.5 seconds and a combined-cycle NEDC fuel consumption figure of 5.6L/100km. This engine is available in all levels of trim, and also with the R-Dynamic cosmetic package.

The mid-spec D180 engine produces 132kW and 430Nm for a 0-100km/h time of 9.3 seconds and a fuel economy figure of 5.6L/100km. Fuel economy for the D240 diesel is rated at 6.2L/100km and the high-output diesel can complete the 0-100km/h run in 7.4 seconds.

For the petrol engines, the P250 powerplant (183kW, 365Nm) uses fuel at the rate of 7.7L/100km and is claimed to knock over the 0-100km/h dash in 7.0 seconds. The P300 (221kW, 400Nm), consumes 8.0L/100km and rips its way to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

Just under 4.4 metres long and slightly less than two metres wide, the E-PACE boasts a luggage capacity of 484 litres with the rear seat in place. There's added storage volume of 93 litres under the floor. Jaguar advises the approach angle of the E-PACE is 22.8 degrees and the departure angle is 29.4 degrees, with a breakover angle of 21.1 degrees. Ground clearance measures 204mm and the E-PACE will wade through crossings 500m deep and tow up to 1800kg (braked).