We are finally going to see if Jaguar can right the biggest mistake in its corporate history. Said colossal error was, of course, trying to take on the might of BMW’s 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with a lightly warmed-over Ford Mondeo, the infamous X-Type.
There will be no such parts-bin mistakes this time, the hotly anticipated XE riding on an all-new modular platform made of aluminum, Jaguar’s signature technology.
The first version that will be revealed — at London’s famous Earl’s Court — will be the sporty S model powered by the company’s recently developed 3.0-litre supercharged V6. That, says Jaguar, means the XE S has 340 horsepower at its disposal, enough to accelerate the lightweight four-door sedan to 100 kilometres an hour in just 5.1 seconds (and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h). Said 2015 XE S (unfortunately, a 2016 model in North America) will also the mistake of basing the X-Type on a front wheel-drive platform with a traditional luxury segment rear-wheel-drive drivetrain as standard and all-wheel-drive as an option. The XE will also be the first Jag to be equipped with fuel economy enhancing electric power steering. Other fuel conservation measures include a slinky silhouette with an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of just 0.26.
Watch our video review of the sexy Jaguar F-Type R Coupe here
2016 Jaguar XE
Handout, Jaguar
The company also promises traditional Jaguar values with the XE having plenty of head- and legroom, not to mention fine-grain leather and details such as contrasting twin-needle stitching. Updates, however, include a new Active Safety and Driver Assistance system with a revolutionary new head-up display and low-speed cruise control system that works in concert with the car’s traction control system to offer optimum grip and safety. The XE also offers systems such as adaptive cruise control, closing vehicle sensing, blind spot monitoring, semi-automated parallel and perpendicular parking, and reverse traffic detection.
For the future, the XE also looks to gain from Jaguar’s new family of Ingenium engines. This advanced family of in-house designed engines is based on modular building blocks of 0.5-litre cylinder, the first variation we’re likely to see an updated 2.0-litre turbocharged four. Both gasoline and diesel-fuelled versions of the Ingenium design are expected.
2016 Jaguar XE
Handout, Jaguar
