Premium prices for Jaguar's first SUV

Jaguar's first SUV is now available to order in Australia, where first deliveries will commence next August, with a premium price range of $74,340 to $120,700 plus on-road costs.

Today's announcement confirms the F-PACE will be offered here from launch in 12 all-wheel drive automatic versions spanning two petrol and two diesel engines, and five equipment grades including Prestige, R-Sport, Portfolio, S and First Edition.

At almost $75,000, the entry-level F-PACE 20d Prestige is cheaper than the Range Rover Sport (from $90,900) from sister brand Land Rover, but more expensive than its four-cylinder Range Rover Evoque (from $51,995) and Discovery Sport (from $55,800), and the six-cylinder Discovery (from $68,940).

More importantly, as expected, the F-PACE is priced closer to large German SUVs like BMW's popular X5 (from $84,200), rather than mid-sizers like Audi's top-selling Q5 (from $62,600).

The F-PACE pricing structure leaves room for a smaller Jaguar SUV reportedly called the E-PACE and sees all mainstream (non-First Edition) models priced below most six-cylinder versions of the X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and new Audi Q7 3.0 TDI ($103,900).

However, it means the five-seat F-PACE is priced closer to the seven-seat Q7, despite being closer in size and weight to the smaller Q5.

The F-PACE measures 4731mm long and weighs just 1775kg in base 20d diesel form. That makes it about 100mm longer and 120kg lighter than the equivalent Q5 2.0 TDI (4629mm, 1895kg), but a big 340mm shorter and 360mm lighter than the Q5 (5072mm, 2135kg), as well as significantly smaller and lighter than the base X5 (4886mm, 2040kg) and GLE (4819mm, 2150kg).

The entry-level F-PACE diesel's 132kW 2.0-litre Ingenium engine is competitive with the Q5 2.0 TDI's 130kW 2.0-litre diesel, but not the 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre diesel in the X3 25d, which costs almost $10,000 less at $64,700. However, it is more efficient than both models, with CO2 emissions of just 139g/km.

The 220kW 3.0-litre diesel engine in 30d models, meantime, betters the 180kW output of the Q5 3.0 TDI and the 200kW Q7 3.0 TDI, and falls between the 190kW outputs of the X3 and X5 30d models and the 230kW X5 40d.

However, the only rival for the F-PACE's 250kW (35t) and 280kW (S) supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engines (the latter of which accelerates the car to 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds and a 250km/h top speed) is the 245kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 ($109,900).

Offsetting its relatively steep pricing is a high level of standard equipment across the range, including automatic low-speed emergency braking, lane departure warning, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather trim, powered front seats and a powered tailgate.

The five-seat wagon offers a generous 650 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats (110 litres more than the Q5), and Jaguar claims its infotainment and connectivity technology is industry-leading, headlined by a premium InControl Touch Pro system based around a 10.2-inch touch-screen, a powerful quad-core processor and solid-state drive. Navigation can also be shown full-screen – in 3D – in the 12.3-inch HD virtual instrument cluster.

Based on the same lightweight, 80 per cent aluminium chassis architecture as Jaguar's new XE and XF sedans but employing a unique 2874mm wheelbase, the F-PACE continues design elements of the C-X17 concept that previewed it, and equipment such as an aluminium bonnet, slender full-LED headlights and forged 22-inch wheels.

Underneath there is F-TYPE-derived double wishbone front suspension and Integral Link rear suspension with torque Vectoring, which combined with Electric Power Assisted Steering and monotube dampers is claimed to deliver class-leading ride and handling.

An electronically-controlled Adaptive Dynamics variable damping system is optional and controlled via a Configurable Dynamics system first seen in the F-TYPE and allowing individual settings for the throttle, automatic transmission and steering.

Jaguar says the F-PACE’s torque on-demand AWD is its most sophisticated yet and has the highest torque capacity. Dubbed Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD), it's claimed to deliver "rear-wheel drive agility and handling character but can seamlessly transfer torque to the front wheels to exploit the performance benefits of extra traction, on all surfaces and in all weathers".

Adaptive Surface Response (ASR) is developed from Land Rover’s Terrain Response system and includes a deep snow and gravel mode, alongside All Surface Progress Control and Low Friction Launch.

Advanced standard safety systems include stereo camera-based Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection function, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Intelligent Speed Limiter systems, plus a Driver Condition Monitor and laser head-up display.

The F-PACE also debuts the Jaguar Activity Key, a waterproof, shockproof wristband with an integrated transponder.

Jaguar F-PACE features:

Prestige
19-inch 'Fan' five-spoke sliver alloy wheels
Grained black grille with chrome surround
Torque Vectoring by Braking
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
All Surface Progress Control (ASPC)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Powered tailgate
Bi-function Xenon headlights with auto-levelling
LED 'J' blade Daytime Running Lights
Taurus leather seat trim
10x10-way power-adjustable front seats with memory
Four-way electric front lumbar adjustment
Split/fold rear seat -- 40:20:40
Manually adjustable steering column
Analogue dials with 5.0-inch full-colour TFT display
Meridian Sound System -- 380W, 11 speakers
InControl Touch (SD) Navigation -- with 8.0-inch touch-screen
Jaguar Smart Key System keyless starting
Rear Parking Aid & Front Parking Aid
Rear View Camera
Space-saver spare wheel

R-Sport (in addition to Prestige)
19-inch 'Bionic' five twin-spoke alloys with grey/diamond turned finish
Grained black grille with Satin Chrome surround
Gloss Black side window surround
R-Sport front bumper
R-Sport rear bumper with corners in body colour
Body-coloured R-Sport door claddings with Satin Black finishers
Side power vents -- Satin Chrome with R-Sport badge
Perforated Taurus Leather Sport seats with Contrast Double Stitching
Cuir Grain wrapped instrument panel topper with contrast stitching
Metal tread plate with R-Sport branding
R-Sport branded Multi-Function Softgrain Leather steering wheel
Configurable Dynamics

Portfolio (in addition to Prestige)
19-inch 'Razor' seven twin-spoke alloys
Perforated Windsor leather trim with Tonal Double Stitching
Windsor leather door trim
Front headrests with Jaguar Leaper embossing
Veneer -- Gloss Figured Ebony
Interior mood lighting
Gloss black grille with chrome surround

S (in addition to Prestige)
20-inch 'Blade' five-spoke alloys with grey/diamond turned finish
Adaptive Dynamics
Red brake callipers
Gloss black grille with Satin Chrome surround
Side window surround -- Gloss Black
S front bumper
Body-coloured S door claddings with Satin Chrome finishers
S rear bumper with Gloss Black finish and Satin Chrome diffuser
Taurus Leather and Suedecloth Sport seats with Contrast Double Stitching
Trim finisher -- Meshed Aluminium
Front headrests with S branded embossing
Tread plate- Metal -- with S branding
Bright Sport pedals
Headlining – Suedecloth
Satin Chrome gearshift paddles

First Edition (in addition to S)
22-inch 'Double Helix' 15-spoke alloys with grey finish and contrast inserts
Sliding Panoramic Roof -- Spoiler Style, Electric Blinds, Electric Opening
Roof rails -- Gloss Black
Houndstooth embossed Windsor Leather seats with Tonal Double Stitching
Windsor Leather door trim
Electrically reclining rear seats
Illuminated metal tread plate (with Jaguar script) and loadspace scuff plate
Carpet mats -- First Edition
Trim finisher -- Gloss Black with Houndstooth pattern
Configurable interior mood lighting
Loadspace storage rails
12.3-inch HD virtual instrument display
InControl Touch Pro (SSD) Navigation – 10.2-inch capacitive touch-screen, 60GB Solid State Drive

2016 Jaguar F-PACE pricing (plus ORCs):
20d Prestige -- $74,340
20d R-Sport -- $80,090
35t Prestige -- $84,030
30d Prestige -- $84,590
35t R-Sport -- $89,790
30d R-Sport -- $90,350
35t Portfolio -- $90,800
30d Portfolio -- $91,350
S diesel -- $99,940
S petrol -- $103,420
First Edition diesel -- $117,210
First Edition petrol -- $120,700