F-PACE – THE LUXURY PERFORMANCE SUV

As Jaguar was keen to expand its portfolio, and already had a superb sedan range, launching a luxury performance SUV made perfect sense.

“The world has changed,” says Wayne Burgess, Jaguar’s Production Design Studio Director, “As much as I love sedans, I’ve always been receptive to the idea of a more practical Jaguar sports car. I’m at a different point in my life, with a wife and twin sons, so a vehicle like F-PACE resonates with me because it means I can have a family car that does everything I need it to do.”

Back in 2013, the C-X17 concept car made its acclaimed debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Clearly a Jaguar from its XF-like front face and lithe bodywork, it nonetheless had a different purpose and market intent. Its essence has remained intact in the production of the F-PACE.

There was no Jaguar design precedent for the F-PACE, which was refreshing for the team. "I really enjoyed working on this program as it wasn’t about comparing the new design with a classic like E-Type or XJ," says Burgess. "That was liberating."

Without Jaguar classics as a reference, Head of Exterior Design Adam Hatton revisited the F-TYPE for design cues.

“Its front fender and rear haunch lines, taut surfaces, slim signature tail lights, and the pure design of the rear - as the forms lead towards the Jaguar leaper badge - take a lot of the visual weight out of the vehicle. The hood of the F-PACE is more horizontal but, for consistency, it shares the side vents and spearline graphic with the XE and the XF too. The brief to ourselves was simple, let’s make the best looking, sportiest practical vehicle on the planet.’

While Jaguar vehicles across the range share details, the proportions of the F-PACE are very different. When you look down the side from back to front, you can see the vehicle’s shoulder curvaceously graduating from slim and tucked in above the window line of the cabin to wide and strong over the rear wheels.

“The F-PACE has a long rear overhang which creates a lot of drama. We were able to do that because we’ve got an exceptionally short front-overhang. We worked really hard with the engineering team on this aspect. Park the opposition next to our vehicle and they don’t look so good by comparison,” says Burgess.

It wasn’t easy to make it feasible for production, as Body Structures Project Leader David Hoadley concedes: “The haunch over the rear wheel arch is a key feature of the F-PACE and was a big challenge. We didn’t want to compromise, so we pushed the limits of what was possible.”

Burgess clarifies the scale of the task – and achievement: “We could have got a solution on the first day, which would have had half the shoulder width. But this design started a three-month iteration process. I’ve been really impressed with the aluminum-stamping facility’s capability.”

Bigger than a Porsche Macan but smaller than an Audi Q7, the benefits of the long rear overhang of the F-PACE go beyond exterior aesthetics, boosting rear legroom and trunk size. The vehicle boasts a rival-trouncing 650-litres of cargo space*** and an impressive 1,255 mm trunk width (1,048 mm between the wheel arches).

“With seats folded flat the capacity is incredible,” says Burgess. “Even with the seats upright it’s really big in the loadspace.”

In the Portfolio trim, the seats come with cool “fluted” cushioning – a thoroughly modern reference to classic Jaguar seats of the 60s and 70s. In front, the Sports Command raised driving position lends the driver confidence and a more assertive view all around.

The F-PACE isn‘t just about luxury and drive, it‘s practical too. Innovative systems to help keep you safe in traffic come as standard, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Reverse Traffic Detection with Blind Spot Monitor and Driver Condition Monitoring with Lane Keep Assist.

The F-PACE features a new go-anywhere Activity Key – a really solid and tough rubber wristband – which locks and unlocks the vehicle via a built-in transponder so you can leave your keys safe in the vehicle. “It’s waterproof plus heat- and shock-proof,” says Jaguar electrical software expert Paul Morris. “It works using an identifiable area on the tailgate: on Jaguar vehicles it’s by the J. The user lines it up and uses similar radio frequencies to our keys. It also disables the keys left inside the vehicle so anybody trying to break-in won’t be able to use those keys to start the vehicle.”

“The F-PACE has one of the best steering feels in its class, due to the way we tune the system here at Jaguar,” says Technical Manager for Vehicle Dynamics Peter Davis. “You won’t know you’re in a SUV. We’ve also got an F-TYPE inspired front axle, a stiff rear axle and very carefully developed tires.”

There’s a wide range of engines to choose from, including a turbocharged four-cylinder 180-horsepower 20d Ingenium diesel, and 340- and 380-horsepower versions of the 3.0 supercharged V6 an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

With an 80 percent aluminum-intensive architecture body for lighter weight overall, and outstanding dynamics, economy and emissions, the F-PACE is truly breaking new ground for Jaguar. As Driveline Specialist Alex Hall concludes: “We’ve taken a Jaguar to where a Jaguar has never been."

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