Jaguar's J-Pace Gradually Takes Shape

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

While Jaguar is working towards padding out its utility lineup, the company has yet to deliver anything exceptionally large. Though not minuscule, neither the midsize F-Pace or smaller E-Pace are capable of swaying someone in the market for an Escalade — and don’t get us started on the slow-selling I-Pace (above).

The company needs a hit, especially now that Chinese sales have fallen off a cliff and the rest of the world cannot make up the difference. Sedans sales are floundering. As Jaguar Land Rover explores cost-cutting measures (mainly staff reductions and a scaling back of R&D), it’s also attempting to simultaneously improve its corporate fuel economy average while anticipating Britain and the EU’s next move re: Brexit. It’s a bad situation and the only saving grace is the company’s SUVs.

Fortunately, JLR has a bundle of new vehicles on the way, all borrowing the new MLA platform. Still a couple of years away, introductory models are said to include the fifth-generation Range Rover and Jaguar’s J-Pace. Jag’s new, larger SUV offering is shaping up a little different than expected, as reports claim Jag has abandoned mechanical all-wheel drive.

According to Autocar, the J-Pace will be an amalgamation of the I-Pace and its more-traditional crossovers in both form and function. Sized to be the biggest utility vehicle in Jaguar’s fleet when it launches (around 193 inches in length), the auto will exist as a plug-in hybrid with an electric motor driving the rear wheels. Meanwhile, the front axle with mate to an internal combustion unit — likely the new Ingenium straight-six Jag’s been gushing about.

From Autocar:

Using an electric motor on the back axle provides a number of advantages. Dropping the mechanical connection to the back wheels, including the propshaft and power take-off unit, allows more room for the battery pack and improves space inside the cabin, eliminating the traditional centre tunnel.

The electric axle should also make for a significant improvement in handling and during off-road work. The speed and precise, controllable nature of the electric motor’s power delivery should improve on-road handling, especially on corners and poor surfaces, as well as providing very fine control of the torque being fed to the rear wheels when driving off-road.

It’s a similar setup to what we experienced in the new Toyota Prius AWD-e, and should function much the same way — only with a lower threshold for getting the rear-wheels involved and much more overall power. Unlike the AWD Prius, the J-Pace is rumored to have the ability to cruise around under electric power at lower speeds. Autocar claims 50 miles in “favorable conditions” is the company’s minimum target.

Beyond that, all we know is that MLA is supposed to be a pretty versatile platform. In addition to this somewhat unique PHEV setup, it’s also capable of producing mild-hybrid and pure-electric vehicles. While JLR initially hinted that MLA could do mechanical all-wheel drive, the company hasn’t brought it up much since last summer. Autocar claims traditional all-wheel drive is on the chopping block, but we’d rather wait until official word arrives from Jaguar. After all, the J-Pace isn’t scheduled to arrive until 2021.

[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Rickkop Rickkop on Mar 26, 2019

    I loved the i-Pace until I heard the range and then the real range people are getting.

  • Tstag Tstag on Mar 27, 2019

    Hang on a minute the I Pace is a hit for Jaguar. They have a large waiting list, are in the top 5 sales in countries like Norway and Netherlands where owning an electric car is seemingly mandatory and are on track to sell over 30,000 a year. That might not sound much but remember it’s list price is quite high to start with and it’s effectively competing with cars like the BMW 7 series. Indeed last time I looked it was going to give the 7 series a run for its money.

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
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