Sitting below the
F-Pace and similar in size to the
Range Rover Evoque, the five-seat E-Pace will rival models such as the
Audi Q3.
The new SUV is set to use the
Land Rover Discovery Sport’s steel platform and could be built alongside that model at the brand’s Halewood plant.
Spotted near JLR’s Gaydon HQ, the E-Pace resembles the F-Pace, with both the grille and roofline reminiscent of those of its larger sibling. It will also feature the latest development of Jaguar’s Incontrol Touch Pro infotainment system and showcase the firm’s improving interior quality.
It is expected to use 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel Ingenium engines, which are produced at
Jaguar Land Rover’s Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton.
In the Discovery Sport, the 178bhp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel achieves 0-62mph in 9.9sec and 53.3mpg combined, while the 148bhp diesel records 11.7sec and 57.6mpg. The E-Pace will be lighter than the Discovery Sport, so these figures should improve.
Launching a car in such a fast-growing segment is likely to boost Jaguar’s sales. The F-Pace is the fastest-selling Jaguar yet, and a smaller SUV could do better still.
The new Jaguar is set to be unveiled in May, away from the motor show circuit. It will appear after the anticipated Range Rover Coupé, which is due at the Geneva motor show in March and is set to target the US market, which is key to JLR’s SUV fortunes.
The E-Pace is expected to undercut the Evoque, which starts at £30,600, and will cost significantly less than the F-Pace, priced from £35,020.
A Jaguar spokesman said: “We do not discuss our future product plans, but we are expanding our product ranges. As a result, there are many Jaguar and Land Rover development vehicles being tested at any one time.”
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