The Jaguar XE (X760) is a car manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover and marketed under their Jaguar marque since April 2015. A large family car, it has a four-door saloon car body style and is aimed at the compact-executive market segment. It is front engined and sold with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The successor to the X-Type, it was designed by Ian Callum and launched at the October 2014 Paris Motor Show.
The XE is noted for its aluminium suspension componentry as well as its bonded and riveted aluminium unitary structure — the first in its segment.
Launch
The XE was announced, but not displayed, at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show and debuted globally on 8 September 2014 in London. Sales were expected to begin globally in 2015, followed by the United States in 2016. Production formally commenced on 13 April 2015 at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant.
Production
The XE was the first Jaguar to be built at the factory in Solihull, which was to be dedicated to the manufacture of aluminium vehicles under both the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, including the second-generation Range Rover Sport. Due to high demand for the vehicle production capacity was increased by adding a line at Castle Bromwich Assembly. Production transferred completely to Castle Bromwich in 2017 as part of a £100m refit.
An extended-wheelbase version—exclusively for the Chinese market—called XEL commenced production at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover plant in Changshu in 2015.
Engines
The XE was the first application of Jaguar Land Rover's new 2.0 L turbocharged Ingenium four-cylinder engine. The Ingenium technology licenses the Multiair/UniAir electrohydraulic variable valve lift system from Schaeffler Group, which Schaeffler in turn licensed from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2001. The system, developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, is a hydraulically-actuated variable valve lift (VVL) technology enabling "cylinder by cylinder, stroke by stroke" control of intake air directly via a gasoline engine's inlet valves.
The four-cylinder is available in both petrol and diesel variants, in a range of different power outputs. The diesel significantly reduced consumption and carbon emission figures, and is capable of fuel consumption less than and producing CO2 emissions of only 99 g/km. The cleanest models in Britain pay no annual Vehicle Excise Duty.
From the XE's launch until 2017 the petrol four-cylinders were from Ford's family of "EcoBoost" engines. New Ingenium petrol engines replaced the Ford units beginning in the 2018 model year.
From the XE's launch until 2019 the petrol V6 was from Jaguar's family of AJ-V8 engines. And, after 2019 the V6 engine was no longer offered.
Design
Exterior
Ian Callum designed the XE's exterior. The construction features bonded and riveted aluminium construction, with bolt-on front and rear crash structure and key body panels to simplify repair and decrease insurance costs. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the active bonnet pops up to provide additional protection.
The exterior design has a drag co-efficient of 0.26.
Interior
The interior features a flush rotary gear selector which raises and becomes functional once the engine is started. The central console featured a or optional 10.2 inch touch screen, providing access to in car entertainment, satellite navigation and vehicle settings. The XE features smartphone connectivity and some models allow the owner to pre-heat the interior or unlock the car remotely, using a smartphone application. A laser colour head-up display is an available option.
Interior revisions in 2017 include cupholder covers, revised and higher resolution display and standard infotainment interface marketed as In-Control Touch Pro reliant on a user-provided data connection Sim card.
In 2019, the interior was revised with new door panels, center tunnel, and a revised infotainment system marketed as In-Control Touch Pro Duo and shared with other Jaguar Land Rover products. The automatic's rotary knob gear selector was replaced with a more conventional type marketed as the Sport Shift Selector.
Construction
Platform
The XE is the first built on the Jaguar Land Rover iQ[Al] (D7a) modular platform, also used for the second generation Jaguar XF (X260) model, the Jaguar F-Pace sports utility vehicle and the Range Rover Velar. The design features double wishbone suspension at the front, with similarities to the system fitted to the XF and F-Type models, the rear features an entirely new subframe mounted multi-link suspension system, marketed as Integral Link. The system costlier to manufacture but allows for greater tuning.