Official: New Jaguar SUV will be known as the F-Pace

Jaguar F-Pace
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Jaguar took the oportunity to announce at the Detroit Auto Show the production of its new SUV called the F-Pace, a performance crossover based on the C-X17 concept and inspired by the F-Type.

Jaguar’s first ever production SUV is bound to arrive in 2016 wearing the F-Pace badge with new-generation Ingenium engines under the hood. The launch of the F-Pace will be the first time in Jaguar’s 80-year history when the manufacturer entered the SUV market.

According to Jaguar officials, the number of positive reactions towards the C-X17 concept lead to the decision of making a production model based on the SUV concept which made its debut during the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

“We received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the C-X17 concept car last year that we just had to make it a reality. The Jaguar F-Pace, inspired by the F-Type, represents a perfectly judged balance of performance, style and practicality. It offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car inspired exterior design, fused beautifully with a thoroughly practical and spacious luxury interior. The F-Pace is our family sports car,” explained Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

The new F-Pace will be manufactured in Solihull, UK and will be a direct competitor for the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X4 and Porsche Macan.

Although Jaguar does not reveal exactly what engines the F-Pace will use, the performance crossover is likely to receive the upcoming Ingenium four-cylinder range plus the 3.0 supercharged petrol V6 used in the F-Type.

In addition, Jaguar tells us that the F-Pace will couple class-leading interior space and on-road dynamics with five-seat usability.

It looks like the F-Pace name was chosen in order to both reflect the relationship in character and style with the sporty F-Type and relate to the famous slogan used by Jaguar in the 1950s and 1960s: Grace, Pace and Space.

“In 2015 we will celebrate Jaguar’s 80th year. We have started it by announcing our first performance crossover which we consider to be the ultimate practical sports car – a car that builds on the marque’s founding ideals of Grace, Pace and Space to become one of the most innovative Jaguars we’ve ever developed. The F-PACE has now begun its engineering and development testing programme ahead of the new model going on sale in 2016,” said Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Global Sales Director.