After countless of teaser images and videos, Jaguar has finally unveiled their historic first crossover, the F-PACE; and already the F-PACE is setting a world record by driving up and over a 19.08 metre high 360 degree loop.
Driven by the British pro driver Terry Grant, the F-PACE endured 6.5G worth of force (that’s 6.5 times the force of gravity!) to complete the stunt, flaunting its agility and strength in the process.
Revealed two years after the unveiling of the C-X17 concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar has kept true to the original concept car’s looks. Minor tweaks were done to the details, but it retains the overall shape of the distinctive sporty silhouette.
There are hints of the Jaguar F-TYPE in the design, such as the muscular rear haunches and the tail lights, but the F-PACE also carries the elements from the other Jaguar sedans with the signature side vents and the slim headlamps that’s also offered in full-LED configuration. A total of six variants are available at launch: Pure, Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport, S, and First Edition, and they differ in trims and equipment.
The interior is also an amalgamation of the current Jaguar vehicles, featuring the rotary gear selector in a clean and simple dashboard with minimum button count, and a virtual 12.3-inch full-HD instrument panel. On top of that, the head-up display is projected by laser, so the images stay visible even in bright sunlight.
A 10.2-inch touchsreen sits in the middle of the dash, used for the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with 60GB solid-state drive powered by a quad-core processor. It runs on ultra-fast Ethernet, allowing up to eight devices to be connected to the vehicle’s WiFi hotspot. Another cool feature is the Activity Key, a wearable waterproof and shockproof wristband with an integrated transponder that allows owners to lock their valuables inside the vehicle, including the key fob itself. Perfect for those who are into watersports.
With a wheelbase measuring 2,874 mm, Jaguar claims the F-PACE will carry five adult occupants in absolute comfort while offering 650 litres worth of cargo space in the boot. The cargo area is 1,255 mm wide, so it’s big enough for two full-size golf bags or four large suitcases to occupy the boot easily.
The 4,731 mm long F-PACE sits on Jaguar’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture which is not only good for fuel efficiency, Jaguar says the lightweight construction should result an agile handling vehicle with unrivalled dynamics, combined with the specifically tuned variable ratio steering and Torque Vectoring offered as standard.
Up to 22-inch wheels can be specified on the F-PACE, and they’re suspended by double wishbone front suspension and Integral Link rear suspension. Base model uses monotube dampers while Adaptive Dynamics system is available as an option, and it can be customised via the Configurable Dynamics that also changes the settings for the throttle, transmission and steering.
Four engines are offered in the F-PACE: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with 178 hp, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with 237 hp, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 296 hp, and a 3.0-litre V6 petrol with either 335 hp or 375 hp, and a choice of either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission by ZF.
The RWD variant of the F-PACE can be had with either of the two four-cylinder engines, but only the diesel is available with manual transmission option, while the AWD variant is available with all the engine options except the four-cylinder petrol, and manual transmission option is again available exclusively on the four-cylinder diesel.
With Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) and Adaptive Surface Response (ASR), the AWD system used in the F-PACE is their most advanced system ever fitted in any Jaguar. The IDD works in all weathers and on all surfaces, where it controls torque distribution of all four wheels, while the ASR regulates the throttle, transmission, and Dynamic Stability Control for optimum traction in any conditions.
A host of driver assistance systems are available on the F-PACE, and it includes the Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, the All Surface Progress Control (ASPC) which works like a cruise control but for a more rugged surfaces, as well as a stereo camera for the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keep Assist (LKA) systems.
In the UK, the Jaguar F-PACE is now available for booking, with a starting price of £34,170 or RM226k. There’s also the limited First Edition F-PACE that costs £65,475 or RM433k. Only 2,000 units will be produced, and all will be finished in Caesium Blue, the exact shade of blue used on the C-X17 concept. The 22-inch Double Helix alloy wheels hide red brake calipers, while the interior gets Gloss Black trim, special carpet mats, and Houndstooth embossed Windsor Leather Sports seats.
IMAGE GALLERY
Guinness World Record attempt
F-PACE First Edition
F-PACE Portfolio
F-PACE R-Sport
