Geneva Motor Show 2015: Jaguar confirms new F-Pace crossover SUV

Jaguar has announced that its new crossover SUV will be called F-Pace when it goes on sale in 2016 and cost around £30,000. The F-Pace is the production version of the C-X17 concept car (pictured below) that debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The production model will be shown at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

The F-Pace is a 'five-seat performance crossover' with an 'aluminium-intensive' structure, according to Jaguar. It will feature an all-wheel drive system linked to Jaguar’s new All Surface Progress Control (ASPC) system.

ASPC was unveiled last year supplementary to other technologies in the forthcoming XE saloon, and works, in Jaguar’s words, 'like a low speed cruise control' in icy conditions, electronically piloting the car in order to achieve best possible traction.

Little has been said about the car itself today, aside from a thorough lyrical waxing from Jaguar design director Ian Callum, who explained that "inspired by the F-Type, [the F-Pace] 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,” he concluded.

The F-Pace will borrow from Land Rover’s four-wheel drive architecture and become a rival to the current crop of medium-sized premium SUVs – think Porsche Macan, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and JLR’s own Range Rover Sport.

Jaguar hasn’t said anything about price or power for the F-Pace, but bearing in mind those rivals it’s likely to begin around the £30,000 mark, with engines familiar to current XF and future XE buyers: a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel starting the range, with 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel units available too.

There is, as ever, the likelihood of high-performance V6 and V8 supercharged versions, dubbed S, R and R-S.

All will become clear as the year progresses and the F-Pace gets closer, but what is certain is that JLR’s product expansion is creating jobs, with the company today announcing that it will create 1300 positions in Solihull, largely owing to production of the F-Pace.