Jaguar electrifies and facelifts the E-Pace

Jaguar is updating the E-Pace and reorganizing its engine offerings: The diesels are being thinned out, almost all combustion engines have mild hybrid systems, and the range is being supplemented with a plug-in hybrid. Aesthetically, connoisseurs can differentiate the new E-Pace models among other things by the exhaust systems: The four-cylinder gasoline engines have a dual exhaust system with chrome tailpipes, while the diesels and the plug-in hybrid feature rectangular exhaust trims.

A revolutionary development for Jaguar is the new three-cylinder engine. In this case, the British cut their 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium engines down by one cylinder, similar to how BMW and Volvo have reduced their four-cylinders by one cylinder; the modular design makes this possible. This leaves 1.5 liters of displacement, from which the British extract 160 hp. The base model starts with a mild hybrid system and front-wheel drive, or it can be combined with an 80 kW electric motor on the rear axle to create a powerful plug-in hybrid, which then achieves a total system output of 309 hp. Jaguar states that the all-electric range is 63 kilometers according to WLTP AER city, and CO2 emissions are expected to be between 43 and 45 grams per kilometer. Charging from 0 to 80 percent should take 30 minutes at a public DC charger with 32 kW.

Only the base diesel remains without any hybridization

Between the two three-cylinder versions lie the four-cylinder gasoline engines: These start with the mild hybridized two-liter four-cylinder turbos as the P200 and P250 with 200 and 249 hp respectively. However, the sportiest E-Pace is not the plug-in, but the P300 Sport. It also features the two-liter four-cylinder as a twin-turbo gasoline engine. The largest diesel, the D200, also extracts 204 hp from two liters of displacement. The entry-level diesel, as with the compact Land Rover models, is the small front-wheel-drive diesel D165 with a six-speed manual transmission. It is the only one that has to do without mild hybrid technology. Otherwise, gear shifts are handled by a nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF, while the three-cylinder engine in the version with eight gears remains.

Except for the entry-level models, all E-Pace vehicles feature all-wheel drive, which automatically distributes torque between the axles. Here too, the proximity to its sister company Land Rover in terms of demand and competence is evident. This also includes the option to disconnect the connection to the rear axle during constant driving on dry roads to reduce fuel consumption. An exception is the P300 Sport, which distributes its 400 Newton meters between the front and rear axles and further between the two rear wheels, relying on permanent all-wheel drive.

Digital instruments on a 12.3-inch screen are available from the SE trim level, and like Land Rovers, a camera in the roof antenna now also transmits its image to the interior mirror to massively expand its field of view.

Orders can be placed immediately, with delivery expected to begin in spring 2021. The price list will start at 38,007 euros gross, which is just under 32,765 euros net.

What does this mean?

After the new Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport, it was clear that the Jaguar E-Pace would soon have to follow with a tech update, where the Brits have deliberately refined it.