Jaguar XE goes all-wheel drive

The Jaguar XE will move from rear-wheel drive to exclusively all-wheel drive for the updated MY21 series due in Australia in the first quarter of next year.

The British brand has also announced that the local line-up for the mid-size prestige sedan will expand from two to three variants with a new mid-series Jaguar XE R-Dynamic Black priced from $69,990 drive-away.

Pricing for the entry-level R-Dynamic SE and top-spec R-Dynamic HSE will be announced before the end of the year, but the Black’s $70K drive-away pricing indicates that Jaguar Australia should hold relatively firm on the RRP while adding significant value with the MY21 update.

The SE is currently priced from $65,670 plus on-road costs, while the HSE starts at $71,940 plus ORCs.

Apart from the shift to an all-paw drivetrain, the headline act on the updated Jaguar XE is the addition of car-maker’s latest Pivo Pro infotainment system.

First seen in the Land Rover Defender, the system consists of an integrated 10.0-inch central touch-screen, with a second 5.5-inch touch-screen positioned below.

Meanwhile, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster now sits behind the steering wheel, while a head-up display is fitted standard, conveying turn-by-turn navigation instructions, media information and more.

Also available is a new wearable watch-like Activity Key with a seven-day battery life, which eliminates the need to carry an ignition key, while a 15W wireless device charger features signal booster technology and is standard across the range.

Compatible with over-the-air software updates, the refreshed sedan also gets Jaguar Land Rover’s latest cabin filtration system, which the brand claims can eliminate “allergens and unpleasant odours”.

Every XE will come with a revised interior design, now with a new split-rim steering wheel and the Jaguar Leaper embossed on the front head restraints.

Standard safety equipment also improves with all models fitted with an upgraded adaptive cruise control system, lane keep assist, rear collision monitor and a 360-degree camera.

Jaguar Australia says the new XE R-Dynamic Black variant comes with almost $6000 worth of options.

These include a black exterior styling pack, boot spoiler, red brake callipers, gloss black 19-inch wheels and standard metallic paint across the exterior palette choice of Santorini Black, Yulong White, Firenze Red, Blue Fire Blue or Eiger Grey.

The R-Dynamic Black also adds metallic pedals, a Meridian sound system and gloss black interior highlights.

Power for all MY21 Jaguar XE variants continues to come from the familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium turbo-petrol engine (221kW/400Nm) that is paired to an eight-speed automatic.

Now driving all four wheels, the Jaguar XE can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds – the same time as the current rear-drive model.