Jaguar will launch a facelifted version of its Jaguar XE next year, UK boss Rawdon Glover has confirmed.
Scooped by Autocar earlier this year, the BMW 3 Series rival will receive an update in 2019, said Glover, four years after the model launched.
Jaguar will be hoping to turn around dwindling sales of its XE, which hasn’t been able to compete with models such as the 3 Series and Audi A4 in the business car market.
Glover said the updated XE was “critical to maintaining its market place”. However, he admitted that CO2 emissions won’t be reduced in the facelifted XE, an important factor in business car buying decisions.
“CO2 won’t change, we have what we have,” said Glover. “It’s about understanding where we can play – small and medium businesses and affinity schemes, for example.”
The fact that CO2 emissions won’t change suggests a plug-in hybrid powertrain won’t be introduced into the XE, despite the technology coming on board imminently at sibling brand Land Rover. It will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its new Evoque in the next 18 months.
However, the facelifted XE is expected to employ a 48V mild hybrid, boosting the efficiency of the four-cylinder petrol and diesel line-up.
It is thought that the new, more stringent WLTP emissions tests mean that CO2 with the mild hybrids will remain the same as the existing line-up.
The recently introduced range-topper, the four-wheel-drive 300 Sport, is expected to carry over largely unchanged.
The 2019 XE will receive a series of tweaks to the exterior design, which is expected to take cues from the XE SV Project 8, while the interior will be inspired by the Jaguar I-Pace, including a Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. Alongside this, we can expect improvements to the cabin, centring on boosting material quality and general fit and finish.
Technology is also an area in which the XE is starting to fall behind some key rivals, so alongside infotainment and connectivity upgrades, we’re likely to see the introduction of some semi-autonomous driving features.
Minor upgrades to improve refinement should feature, too, while tweaks to the suspension would ensure the XE balances ride comfort and handling with even more aplomb than the current car.
The XE has already been spotted hot weather testing in Nevada, US, as well as near Jaguar Land Rover’s base at Gaydon, Warwickshire, as our spy photos show.
The updated model is due to go on sale in April.
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Jag XE
I saw one myself, yesterday. VO68 FTD - listed on DVLA as a 1500cc Hybrid Electric.
Hybrid?
Full hybrid? Where would they have put it? The battery is in the boot even on the conventional 12V system. The engine bay was designed for the straight 6 that was never worth fitting, because for some inexplicable reason, everyone wants an SUV. Thirstier, clumsier, slower, but OK for towing the horse box that you don't actually own, but you'd like your neighbours to think you might.
"current ingenium engines are simply not good enough"
"We have what we have". In other words, what we have is not good enough compared to competition. The big let-down of current JLRs is the engine, being it petrol or diesel. They might handle ok (not at Alfa level, unfortunately) but there is a serious issue of quality and engine.
It's not by coincidence that major rating agencies have downgraded JLR's debt lately. Bado news. And more to come. Soon.
Autocar seems one of those japanese soldiers, still fighting after the war was over.
TATA
It is one of the worst but it's amongst good company. FORD Debt is just above Junk and just look at the share value of Daimler, Mazda, BMW, Renault etc over the last year, big percentage drops. Only Telsa has improved it's worth, yeah!
Further amalgamation will be needed else I can see another big name going down