Whilst most other luxury brands have had a medium sized apparent ‘off roader’ in their arsenal for quite some time, Jaguar have arrived very late to the SUV sector. Models from Audi, Porsche, VW and BMW have been roaming the school runs and mildly damp country lanes for what seems like decades now. When your partnering company is Land Rover, the very definition of an off-roader and the very people who brought the go anywhere concept to the mass market, there’s very little rush to join the premium SUV market with a similar model. However, since Jaguar are on a bit of a role with their line up these days they have decided now is the perfect time to enter the fray and shake up the mid-sized off road sector.
The F-Pace shares its ‘architecture’ (Jaguar are very careful to not use platform as it suggests same underpinnings just a different body, although that is pretty much what it means) with the Discovery Sport, yet is targeting a different dynamic to its potential customers. The Discovery brand by reputation is a go anywhere rugged workhorse that graces many a farmstead or rural setting, with a partly utilitarian essence that is more comfortable than the legendary Defender (RIP) but less luxurious than a Range Rover. Jaguar isn’t about utilitarian in any way shape or form. Since re-launching the brand under Indian ownership, Jaguars in the modern age are all about luxury, refinement and superb driving dynamics in abundance. The once title bearing, cigar smoking, tweed wearing gentry that the brand used to be synonymous with have been joined by those deferring to the marque for the motorsport heritage, luxury GT car driving and enthusiastic handling characteristics. Jaguar knows their off roader needs to meet this new direction of customers to fit their new athletic image so have purposefully steered their version away from the Land Rover ruggedness, and head on into the territory of the Porsche Macan.
Since the introduction of the striking XJ and the reinvention of the E-Type in the inspiring F-Type, Jaguar has rekindled the desirable sleek styling they were always known for. The mundane X-Type and often criticised S-Type models of the last decade have thankfully been long forgotten, resigned to the ugly bin and used as an example of the direction the company doesn’t want to go back to. Instead the beauty of traditional Jaguar’s is back in abundance, not in an awkward attempt at retro styling but in desirable cutting edge modern contemporary design.
The new F-Pace is no different. The now familiar large oblong / curved edge trapezoidal grille of recent years is the prominent feature at the front, not in the gaping way a Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7 first appeared, but in proportion to the front end styling. The bonnet, angled to cover the top of the headlights like a frown, give a mean aggressive look to the F-Pace, hinting at its purposeful driving intentions. The bonnet itself has a raised central section to give a bulging menacing appearance, although with the potential of a thumping V8 and SVR model at some point it may be very apt as a design detail. Large gaping air scoops in the front bumper, whether functional or style over substance, add to the sporting appearance, appearing on every model from the large petrol-engine versions to the frugal diesel model.
The angular look to the front continues with the rising window line to the side profile, which together with the narrow appearance of the window line, disguises the size of the car nicely to appear athletic and coupe like in form. The front three quarter view to the styling borrows heavily from the recent XE, only with slimmer headlights and obviously a higher riding height. The narrow window profile is finished at the rear by a slimline rear windscreen, headed by a large spoiler adding to the sporting profile. Rear lights borrow the shape from the F-Type, albeit in a larger form to match the larger proportions of the back of the car. Attempts to create a coupe look to the styling are finished off by the angled rear windscreen, quite the sports car appearance form the side when coupled with the large roof spoiler. As far as SUV styling goes, Jaguar really have adapted their athletic styling well to suit the larger proportions of a bigger car, avoiding an awkward collaboration that can often occur in this class.
The F-Pace is sure to back up its visual athleticism with driving dynamics to match, setting it apart from the Land Rover relative underneath. With so many rivals already on the market it would be easy for the Jaguar to enter the fray and merge into the crowd as a successful yet similar version of any of the mid-sized SUV’s. The fact that they have taken their time to assess the competition, and have the ultimate pedigree of off roaders possible in their corner as well as underpinning their car, mean that the engineering is sure to succeed. The car may not be driven off road in the real world, but you can rest assured that its capabilities are sure to match the famed Land Rover standards. As for its likely on road performance, Land Rover have come a long way since their agricultural roots and Jaguar are no strangers to fine handling road or track supercars. The latest crop of high performance SVR models in the Range Rover redefines handling capabilities for such a large car, with their engineering know-how sure to invigorate the F-Pace’s performance.
The F-Pace has aimed straight for Porsche’s Macan and Audi’s SQ5, and on looks and design alone it matches the luxury German machine’s offering. The styling is contemporary and purposeful yet modern and aggressive, a rekindled trademark together with the desirability of the reinvigorated brand, being brought right up to date fitting with the once illustrious imagery of its former glory days. With the Jaguar Land Rover brand rolling out the most dynamic driving luxury cars on the market these days, it is sure not to disappoint in the handling stakes either. The big cat is definitely back and on recent form is back at the top where it belongs.
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