2015 Jaguar XE range revealed

The range will include five model variants: the entry-level Pure (not pictured), the mid-tier Prestige (in white), and the luxurious Portfolio (in grey), along with the performance-themed R-Sport (in blue), and the hot S (in red) at the top.

The XE Pure starts the range with cloth seats and gloss black door trim finishers.

The XE Prestige gains ‘Taurus’ leather upholstery with contrast stitching, perforated inserts for the optional ventilated seats, brushed aluminium door finishers, and phosphor blue ambient lighting.

The XE Portfolio offers the widest range of colour options for the premium ‘Windsor’ leather with Herringbone perforations. The instrument panel features split upper and lower coverings in two colours and twin-needle stitching, while the aluminium trim has an embossed surface finish.

The XE R-Sport gets Taurus leather with unique technical mesh fabric inserts, etched aluminium door finishers, and R-Sport-branded sports steering wheel and tread plates. The exterior is enhanced by a subtle rear spoiler and unique chrome treatment for the lower front-side vents. The R-Sport also gains a sports suspension tune.

The performance-oriented XE S upgrades to a race-inspired interior with Taurus leather and suede cloth inserts, S-branded sports steering wheel and tread plates, dark hex aluminium door finishers and ‘Riva Hoop’ (the ring that lines the top of the dashboard), and a gloss black centre console. Outside, the front bumper features larger air intakes, gloss black side skirts and rear valance, rear spoiler, and red brake calipers, and can be optioned with forged 20-inch ‘Propeller’ alloy wheels.

Following yesterday’s announcement of initial details of the Jaguar XE’s diesel engine line-up we can now reveal the full range, which includes four 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo variants (two petrol, two diesel), and a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol.

As previously revealed, the all-new ‘Ingenium’ diesel engines are available with outputs of 120kW and 380Nm and 132kW and 430Nm. Both hit max power at 4000rpm, while torque peaks between 1750 and 2500rpm.

The six-speed manual version of the low-power tune becomes the most frugal Jaguar in the company’s history, offering combined cycle fuel consumption of 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The eight-speed automatic is close behind at 3.9L/100km. The auto is quicker, however, claiming to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds compared with 8.4sec for the manual.

The high-power diesel is slightly thirstier but also slightly quicker, both manual and auto rated at 7.8sec and 4.2L/100km.

Jaguar’s all-new Ingenium petrol engines won’t be available from launch. Instead, the XE will feature the existing engine familiar from its larger XF and XJ siblings.

The base tune produces 147kW and 280Nm, while the more powerful version gets a meatier 177kW and 340Nm. Both produce their peak power outputs at 5500rpm and peak torque between 1750-4000rpm.

Available exclusively with the eight-speed auto, both are rated at 7.5L/100km on the combined cycle, though the 177kW version is almost a second quicker to triple figures than the 147kW unit (6.8sec versus 7.7sec).

The Jaguar XE S inherits the 250kW/450Nm V6 engine tune from the entry-level F-Type sports car. Also auto-only, it claims a 5.1sec sprint time and combined cycle consumption of 8.1L/100km.

All variants above are rear-wheel drive. Jaguar is yet to announce plans for all-wheel-drive derivatives.

The diesel variants weigh from 1474-1565kg, the four-cylinder petrols 1530-1535kg, and the XE S V6 1665kg, yet despite featuring the brand’s much-hyped aluminium-intensive monocoque chassis – which is unique to the premium mid-sized segment – the XE is still heavier than the BMW 3 Series (from 1385kg) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class (from 1395kg), though undercuts the Audi A4 (from 1545kg).

Depending on the variant, the Jaguar Drive Control system allows owners to select between Eco, Normal, Winter and Dynamic vehicle set-up modes to suit the conditions and their preferences.

The Jaguar XE comes standard with Torque Vectoring, which is designed to mitigate understeer, and All Surface Progress Control, which is essentially a low-speed cruise control system designed to deliver maximum traction on low-grip surfaces.

Other driver assist features include a world-first laser head-up display, stereo camera for its autonomous emergency braking and traffic sign recognition systems, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and closing vehicle sensing, and auto parking and exiting for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

Jaguar officials today confirmed to CarAdvice that Australia would be one of the few markets outside Europe to get emergency braking and lane departure warning systems as standard from launch.

The XE also debuts Jaguar’s new InControl infotainment system, which incorporates features such as a dual-view touchscreen, integrated apps, Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, remote access to vehicle functions via smartphone (allowing owners to check the fuel tank, lock and unlock the doors, and pre-set the climate control), and emergency calling in the event of a crash.

An 11-speaker plus subwoofer Meridian audio system developed specifically for the XE is also available.

Jaguar Australia insists it won’t announce pricing and specification details until closer to the XE’s local launch in the third quarter of 2015, though with the A4, 3 Series and C-Class in its sights, the range is expected to start from around $60,000 in entry-level petrol and diesel spec, while the XE S will compete with the likes of the BMW 335i ($93,430) and the Audi S4 ($105,000).

Click the Photos tab for more Jaguar XE images.