Let loose
When Jaguar first threw its name into the luxury SUV hat, rampant speculation arose regarding which facet of this burgeoning market would its proposed vehicle contend in. Would the vaunted British carmaker accede to building a no-nonsense ride that would ferry family and paraphernalia in signature Jaguar sophistication, or would Jaguar pander to dads who want a family-friendly car with ferocious capabilities that fulfil their motor racing fantasies?
Named after the F-Type, Jaguar’s vaunted sports model, the F-Pace straddles both. The bi-annual Frankfurt Motor Show is no stranger to game-changing debuts, and was graced by the much-anticipated reveal of the F-Pace last year, following its 2013 showcase of the C-X17 concept car, upon which the F-Pace is based.
The silhouette and performance of the F-Pace are distinctively Jaguar. Jaguar’s trademark purr is a soothing hum that hasn’t changed much with the advent of the new F-Pace. First-timers may take a while to get accustomed to this Jaguar’s new lanky driving position, but the F-Pace is easily tamed despite its capacious architecture.
While taking Jaguar’s first-ever luxury performance SUV for a spin, what’s immediately prevalent is this hefty vehicle’s greater than expected agility and responsiveness. Its easy grace and extreme practicality sprints in with a 3-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol engine that, depending on variant, develops 335bhp/450Nm or 375bhp/450Nm. In the century sprint, it clocks 5.8s and 5.5s respectively.
Behind its stellar performance is a litany of more cutting-edge technological systems. The all-wheel drive Jaguar F-Pace is armed with an optimised ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmissions and Electric Power Assisted Steering. Developed in-house, its Intelligent Driveline Dynamics continually analyses ground and weather conditions so as to always deliver the precise amount of torque to the front axle and garner the most ideal level of traction. Jaguar’s Adaptive Surface Response technology further calibrates and adapts to variables like surface grip and smoothness, further enriching the gratification of harnessing this majestic steed. Stuck in traffic? The F-Pace also has Adaptive Cruise Control and Queue Assist – intuitive driving technology that lets you relax while the car handles itself autonomously in perfect safety.
“The F-Pace has been much awaited since its dramatic reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. Instantly recognisable as a Jaguar, our first-ever performance SUV combines maximum driving exhilaration and practicality and is sure to excite the senses,” says Russell Anderson, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Importers.
The Jaguar F-Pace is available in entry-level Prestige trim, the sporty R-Sport and high-performance S trim, as well as the limited series First Edition trim, which marks this pivotal juncture in Jaguar’s history with Caesium Blue and Halcyon Gold models.
