Jaguar names its 3 Series-fighter XE, packs it with Ingenium engines

Tue, 04 Mar 2014

Jaguar is committed to emerging from the fringes of the luxury car market and into the mainstream. Just take a look at where it was a couple of decades ago and where it is now: In the 1980s, it had essentially two product lines, the XJ sedan and XJ-S coupe/convertible), and now it's got the XK coupe and convertible, the XJ sedan, the XF sedan and wagon and the F-Type coupe and roadster. But it's not about to stop there.

Coventry knows that if it's going to take on the German and Japanese heavyweights, it's going to need a compact sports sedan, and it's not about to repeat the mistake that was the X-Type. To that end, it's long been rumored to be developing a rival to the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class – it just hasn't given us much to go on. But that changes right here and now.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar has confirmed the imminent arrival of its new sports sedan, and along with the teaser image above, has given us some juicy details. For one, it'll be called the XE – fitting nicely alongside its big brothers the XF and XJ in Jaguar's growing sedan lineup. For another, it'll hit markets overseas in 2015 and arrive here in the United States in 2016.

The XE is being built around the new aluminum architecture that debuted underneath the C-X17 crossover concept last year, and it will – as Jaguar has now confirmed – be powered by a new generation of engines. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is being called Ingenium, and will be configurable for use in both transverse and in-line orientations, driving either the rear wheels or all four, and burning either gasoline or diesel.

It all sounds rather promising, and we're looking forward to seeing Jaguar do its best to deliver on that promise. If the new F-Type is anything to go on, it should deliver in spades. In the meantime, you can scope out the details in the press release below.

JAGUAR XE CONFIRMED AS NAME FOR COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN WITH All-NEW 'INGENIUM' ENGINE FAMILY AND ADVANCED ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

- The Jaguar XE will be an all-new compact premium sports sedan that will arrive in the United States in 2016
- This sedan will expand the Jaguar lineup to reach a new generation of automotive enthusiasts and luxury buyers
- The Jaguar XE will be an advanced, efficient and refined design featuring an aluminum intensive unibody

- This will be the first Jaguar product built on the company's new advanced aluminum architecture
- The Jaguar XE will be the first vehicle powered by the new Ingenium high-output, fuel-efficient two-liter four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines delivering exceptional performance and low emissions
- The Ingenium family of engines will be built at a new Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Facility in the United Kingdom

(MAHWAH, N.J.) – March 4, 2014 – Today, Jaguar confirmed details of the brand's all-new compact sport sedan, the Jaguar XE which will launch globally in 2015 and comes to the United States in 2016. The Jaguar XE will be the first product built on the new advanced aluminum architecture which was showcased in the C-X17 concept car in 2013. This aluminum intensive structure provides the benefits of lightness and strength for exceptional handling, performance, refinement and efficiency.

Power will be provided by a variety of engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies. The new Ingenium engine line will also offer a flexible engine architecture that can be configured to suit in-line and transverse installations and can be used in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, confirmed: "We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Center would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder gasoline and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new compact Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year."

Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: "The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar car; more compact in size but visually striking. Customers will expect a great deal from a compact Jaguar car - it must be practical but premium. We never forget we are designing a Jaguar car and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we've done just that with the Jaguar XE."

"The all-new Jaguar XE compact sport sedan will bring Jaguar into the largest segment of the luxury car market with a dynamic new entry that will challenge the status quo of luxury car brands," said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President of Jaguar North America. "Jaguar is charting an exciting new path with the recent launch of the Jaguar F-TYPE and the introduction of the Jaguar XE, which completes our sedan line-up. We offer a more exclusive, distinct choice in the luxury car marketplace combining progressive British design, a high performance character and advanced aluminum technology."

The name of the Jaguar XE follows the brand's sedan progression, positioned alongside the XF and XJ sedans in the range.

For the full year 2013, Jaguar delivered its strongest full year global sales performance since 2005 retailing 76,668 vehicles, up 42%.

By Noah Joseph