The new Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE redefines the concept of the sports saloon and will be the driver’s car in its class. Its lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior and outstanding ride and handling are testament to company founder Sir William Lyons’ vision: ‘The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive’

The rear-drive XE is the only vehicle in its class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque. This extremely robust yet light structure, together with double wishbone front suspension and an Integral Link rear axle, is fundamental to the XE’s innovative benchmark vehicle dynamics.

Jaguar’s world-leading expertise in aluminium structure engineering enables exceptional fuel consumption and emissions figures: with the new Ingenium diesel engines, the XE can achieve 75mpg and 99g/km CO₂ – the most efficient Jaguar ever.

Powered by the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine from the acclaimed Jaguar F-TYPE, the XE S is capable of 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds.

The aluminium-intensive Jaguar XE is the first model developed from Jaguar Land Rover’s new modular vehicle architecture. The long 2,835mm wheelbase and low seating position enable perfect proportions and a streamlined profile.

The cabin offers outstanding levels of comfort and spaciousness. Exquisite materials and finishes combined with Jaguar craftsmanship make this a classbeating interior that’s unlike anything else in the segment. Jaguar’s new InControl Touch infotainment system takes centre stage: its innovative 8-inch touchscreen brings fast, intuitive access to all features and functions – and iOS and Android smartphone apps.

The XE has some of the most advanced driver assistance systems available. All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), developed through decades of Jaguar Land Rover experience in off-road traction systems, can electronically gain traction in seconds and is ideal for use on low-grip surfaces, such as snow-covered roads.

Laser projection technology enables the XE’s head-up display (HUD) to generate sharp, high-contrast colour graphics (such as vehicle speed and navigation) from a module smaller and almost a third lighter than existing systems, retaining clarity even in direct sunlight.

A stereo camera is mounted behind the front windscreen to give the XE a 3D view of the road ahead: this highly accurate data is used for functions including autonomous emergency braking and a lane departure warning system.

The XE is the stiffest, most aerodynamic Jaguar saloon car ever built. It is also the first Jaguar to be equipped with electric power steering, tuned to provide exceptional responsiveness and feel but with lower energy consumption than hydraulic systems. The XE also boasts the lowest cost of ownership and most environmentally sustainable credentials of all Jaguar models.

Manufacturing of the aluminium-intensive Jaguar XE occurs at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant in an all-new facility. Part of a £1.5bn investment, this flexible, purpose-built site will create 1,700 UK jobs. 

The XE now completes the Jaguar saloon car range, sitting below the XF and XJ model lines.

The XE Range

From luxurious to high-performance, the XE range offers a model perfectly suited to every taste Sports saloons tailored to suit every driver.

Each XE is designed to offer an unrivalled combination of steering response, ride comfort, refinement and performance. These attributes are matched to the sleek, perfectly-proportioned exterior styling and the premium materials and meticulous attention to detail defining the interior.

Pure:

The entry-level to the XE range, the Pure* model features high-quality cloth seats and a gloss black treatment for the door trim finishers and the signature ‘Riva Hoop’ sweeping around the instrument panel.

R-Sport: 

Seats are trimmed with Taurus leather with unique technical mesh fabric inserts. The ‘Riva Hoop’ and door finishers are in etched aluminium, and the tread plates and sports steering wheel feature R-Sport branding. The exterior is enhanced by a subtle rear spoiler and a noble chrome treatment for the side power vents. sports suspension delivers even better handling.

S:

The most performance-orientated XE model features a race-inspired interior. The Taurus leather seats have suede cloth panels and the tread plates and leather sports steering wheel carry the S logo. Dark hex aluminium graces the door finishers and the ‘Riva Hoop’, while the centre console is gloss black. The front bumper’s enlarged air intakes hint at the performance potential of the supercharged V6. Side sill extensions, rear spoiler, gloss black rear valance, red brake calipers and optional forged, 20-inch ‘Propeller’ alloy wheels complete the package.

Prestige:

Taurus leather upholstery with contrasting stitching delivers a modern, progressive luxury interior, complete with phosphor blue ambient lighting. Inserts on the air-conditioned seat option are perforated and the ‘Riva Hoop’ and door finishers are finished in brushed aluminium.

Portfolio: 

The most luxurious XE model, Portfolio features a wide range of colour options for the premium Windsor leather with herringbone perforations. The instrument panel features split upper and lower coverings in two colours, complete with colour-keyed twin-needle stitching for a truly bespoke feel. The aluminium trim has an embossed surface finish.

*SE in the UK

Design

The most advanced sports saloon that Jaguar has produced, the new XE is instantly recognisable as a Jaguar, its aluminium skin formed around the fundamental principles of perfect proportions and aerodynamic efficiency. The new XE looks and feels like no other car in its class Purity and purpose: Form and function without compromise.

Always at the forefront of innovation, Jaguar created the blueprint for the first ever sports saloon with the iconic Mk II, a car which distilled sports car performance and dynamics into a stylish fourdoor body. The new XE builds on this unique heritage, combining Jaguar’s unrivalled expertise in lightweight construction with exquisite lines, sharp radii and perfectly executed surfaces.

The only car in its class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque, the XE was developed in parallel with Jaguar’s lightweight, modular vehicle architecture. Created from a clean sheet, this architecture – which will form the backbone of several future Jaguar models – unlocks entirely new design possibilities for the brand.

“Great proportions and a dynamic, edgy feel are at the core of Jaguar design. We wanted to create a strong sense of movement, and have given the XE a dynamic and purposeful look that is without compromise. Sleek, low, coupe-like exterior proportions combine with an efficient package that is instantly recognisable as  a true Jaguar.” Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design

The strongly-sculpted bonnet is a testament to Jaguar’s expertise in working with aluminium, creating a taut, muscular appearance. The very steeply raked windscreen and the rising waistline accentuate the streamlined, coupe-like profile, adding to the sense of movement.

The signature ‘J-Blade’ running lights are another instantly recognisable Jaguar design. In the rear lights, a horizontal line intersecting a roundel is an iconic styling feature inherited from the iconic Jaguar E-type.

Smooth progress: Sleek styling, low aerodynamic drag

Jaguar has a rich history of designing stunning, yet aerodynamically efficient cars. The new XE continues this tradition of uncompromised form and function: its profile has the lowest drag coefficient of any Jaguar yet – Cd 0.26. This was achieved through a combination of over 1,200 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and over eight million hours of processor time.

The body’s low-drag shape is enhanced by features that amplify each improvement made. Innovations include front bumper ducts which channel laminar airflow over the surface of the front wheels to reduce drag. This is combined with lightweight under-floor panels running back to the rear silencer, creating an almost perfectly smooth surface, also significantly reducing drag.

Inside story: Spacious, luxurious

Expectations raised by the XE’s beautiful exterior styling are exceeded once inside. The spacious cabin cocoons front seat passengers with a deep centre console, creating a cockpit-like feel. The 8inch touchscreen for the new InControl Touch infotainment system takes centre stage in the sweeping curves of the instrument panel. On models equipped with automatic transmissions, Jaguar’s unique rotary drive selector rises up from the centre console – the XE feels alive.

The contour-hugging front seats are mounted low, creating a sports-car like driving position with heating and cooling options and up to14-way power adjustment. The rear seats may also be heated and can offer a 40:20:40 split-fold – a first for Jaguar – and a through-loading feature.

The XE proves that sleek, streamlined styling and interior space need not be mutually exclusive. All occupants enjoy generous amounts of head and legroom, and the deeply scalloped seatbacks liberate even more space for passengers seated in the rear of the XE.

Technical fabrics, fine-grain leathers and contrasting twin-needle stitching give the cabin a bespoke quality. Gloss black, textured aluminium, contemporary wood veneers, and carbon-fibre trim enhance a luxurious, handcrafted feel.

Body Structure

Jaguar is more experienced in the use of aluminium construction than any other vehicle manufacturer, allowing the development of the revolutionary body structure of the new XE. It is the only car in the class built around an aluminium-intensive monocoque.

Light, stiff, safe

Following development of the aluminium XJ in 2003, the XK, the current XJ and the F-Type, Jaguar’s experience is embodied in the new XE’s aluminium-intensive monocoque. The XE is the most rigid saloon that Jaguar has ever built and no other vehicle in the midsize segment contains more aluminium.

The XE is the first model designed using Jaguar’s all-new modular vehicle architecture. This advanced structure, which will underpin a range of different models in a number of different segments, is engineered to utilise the most intelligent mix of materials, including aluminium, high-strength steel and magnesium, providing exceptional manufacturing flexibility.

For the XE, satisfying the demanding targets for ride, handling, fuel economy and safety dictated an aluminium-intensive monocoque. When Jaguar started work on the original aluminium XJ, the luxury saloon’s body comprised around 70 per cent conventional grades and 30 per cent high-strength alloys respectively. In the new XE, these proportions have been reversed. 

High-strength aluminium alloys, including AC300 and AC600 grades, are also used in areas such as the A-pillars, front and rear crash structures, and the cant rail. The B-pillars are high-strength aluminium reinforced with ultra-high strength steel, with a layer of high-density foam between.

All of this makes the passenger compartment exceptionally stiff, preventing intrusions in the event of a collision. The new XE has been engineered to meet the most stringent legislative and consumer crash test requirements worldwide, including US and Euro NCAP.

Pedestrian protection reaches new levels too: the energy absorbing properties of the aluminium bonnet are enhanced by a deployable hinge system, which creates additional clearance between the underside and stiff structures such as the powertrain, suspension towers and the bulkhead. 

Recycled aluminium alloy: A world-first

Sustainability is another big part of the story at Jaguar Land Rover. The new XE is the first car in the world to use a high-strength aluminium alloy – RC5754 – made predominantly from recycled material. The product of several years of research, this grade contains only a small quantity of primary material, essential to achieving the desired mechanical properties. 

Steels, including advanced high-strength and dual-phase steels, are used for parts such as the rear underbody, door panels and bootlid. These materials satisfy the particular strength, stiffness and geometrical requirements of these parts and they also contribute to the XE’s ideal weight distribution. Cast magnesium also makes an appearance: this ultra-light material is used to make the front-end carrier as well as the cross-car beam.

Chassis

Jaguar saloons have always been renowned for their matchless combination of sublime ride comfort and outstanding driving dynamics. The new XE will take this to the next level thanks to double wishbone front suspension, Integral Link rear suspension and Jaguar’s first application of electric power steering. Development target: be the driver’s car in the segment

Agile, responsive, supple

Designing the XE entirely from scratch using a brand new architecture presented the programme team the rare opportunity to develop a car free of the compromises imposed by legacy platforms and carryover components. As a result the XE has the most sophisticated chassis of any vehicle in its class and will set the benchmark for ride and handling.

The XE’s light, stiff body structure and longitudinal, rear-drive powertrains provided the perfect starting point for development. Where most competitors use the simple MacPherson strut front suspension, Jaguar’s vehicle dynamics team insisted on the superior double wishbone configuration.

Camber stiffness was an important consideration. This attribute – the resistance to lateral load when the car is cornering – is crucial to steering feel. To keep unsprung mass to a minimum, the forged aluminium knuckles are made from cast blanks using a patented production process. Further weight savings come from the tubular anti-roll bars and springs made from stiffer, narrower-gauge steel.

Front suspension geometry was optimised from the outset to suit all-wheel drive and rear-wheeldrive configurations. The suspension mounting points enable efficient packaging of the spring and damper assembly – essential to achieving the low bonnet height fundamental to the XE’s sleek styling and to pedestrian impact protection.

The dampers have been meticulously tuned, giving the sublime ride quality Jaguar cars are famous for and the taut body control needed for agile handling.

Patrick Maendly – 2015