F-Pace first look

Jaguar has finally taken the wraps off its first SUV, the F-Pace. Unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show as the C-X17, it has been dubbed by the British automaker as the ‘Ultimate practical sports car’ and is underpinned by new aluminium architecture.

At first glance, the F-Pace has all the Jaguar hallmarks like the mesh grille with feline fascia and sweptback headlamps. Adding to the image are bulges on the hood and chrome elements under the fog lamp slots. Moving over to the side, we can see the SUV side of the vehicle in full form thanks to the high ground clearance, flared wheel arches and rearward sloping roofline.

The rear is unmistakeably Jaguar thanks to the switchblade style wrap around tail lamps and shape of the rear glass. What is new however is the bumper as well as pseudo bash plate element into which the tail lamps have been integrated.

Step into the cabin and you are welcomed by a leather-lined space filled with high quality plastics, wood inserts and chrome garnish for the centre console. Standard features across all trim levels include a touchscreen infotainment system, contrast coloured leather seats, digital instrument cluster, four-zone climate control and of course their famous rotary gear knob which pulses and rises out the console when the car is switched on.

It gets a five-seat layout with a handcrafted 650-litre boot which has special underfloor trays for extra storage as well as space for a full-size spare wheel.

While the C-X17 was introduced with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8, this production model is a little more on the sane side and is being offered with the Ingenium family of engines where there are two petrol units and two diesel engines.

The former include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that produces 237bhp as well as a 3.0-litre V6 unit that produces 377bhp. The diesel range includes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that produces 177bhp as well as 3.0-litre V6 mill that produces 337bhp. All models are available with AWD except for the entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol.

The F-Pace represents a new direction for the British automaker in terms of expanding its market presence. It will be built at their plant in Solihull alongside the new XE sedan and will be launched for the Indian market at the end of 2016. We expect that they will locally assemble the SUV for the sub-continent.