Yet more details of the Jaguar XE have been announced. We now know the compact saloon will feature an ‘aluminium-intensive lightweight construction’ that will help make it the most fuel efficient Jaguar ever.
Jaguar claims the new saloon will manage an impressive 75mpg while emitting less than 100g/km of CO2. This is in part thanks to the generous use of aluminium. 75 per cent of the XE body is, in fact, made from the stuff.
The most frugal engine is expected to be the 2.0-litre turbodiesel from the new Ingenium engine family that will debut in the XE saloon. Power outputs and performance figures are being kept under wraps.
We’re not just talking about any old aluminium, mind you. Jaguar has invented a highly-recycled alloy specifically for the XE it calls RC5754, which is said to ‘dramatically reduce energy consumption and lifecycle CO2’.
“The Jaguar XE body uses over 75 per cent aluminium content, which far exceeds any other car in its class. This gives us a body structure with unrivalled low weight: it’s light but also immensely strong with extremely high levels of torsional stiffness,” Jaguar chief technical specialist Dr Mark White commented.
“We’ve made sure our aluminium-intensive body structure exceeds all global safety standards without compromising on vehicle design or refinement,” he added.
A performance-focussed XE SVR model is on the cards. Reports say it will be powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 capable of 542bhp, putting it on a level with the BMW M3 and M4.
Jaguar has promised the XE will be ‘the true driver’s car in the segment’ – a bold claim given the level of competition in the saloon market in the form of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. Jaguar also said it wants to use 75 per cent recycled material by 2020.
The Jaguar XE world premiere will happen in London on September 8th, 2014. Stay tuned.
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