Jaguar E-Pace (BMW X1 rival) spied testing in France

Will be based on Evoque's all steel D8 platform, rather than Jaguar's iQ aluminium platform.

An Auto Plus reader has uploaded several images of what appears to be a test mule of the baby Jaguar F-Pace - unofficially christened the Jaguar E-Pace - on the A75 in France.

While the test mule is heavily wrapped up with camouflage and faux body panels, it does look like an F-Pace that's been slightly shrunk, especially at the overhangs. Expect the E-Pace to also draw some cues from the all-electric Jaguar i-Pace crossover, featuring sleek headlamps that flank a large Jaguar mesh grille, wide rear haunches that complement its stance, thin F-Type inspired LED taillamps, steeply-raked windscreen and dual exhaust pipes. The E-Pace's dimensions are likely to be around the Evoque 5-door's 4,360 mm length, 1,635 mm height, 2,120 mm width (incl mirrors) and wheelbase of 2,660 mm.

The E-Pace will ride on the D8 all-steel platform that also underpins the Discovery Sport and the Range Rover Evoque, and will offer JLR's Ingenium lineup of 4-cyl petrol and diesel engines sourced from the XE. Unlike the XE, however, the engines will be transversely-mounted to keep the snout in proportion with the rest of the body, which means that base variants of the E-Pace could send power to the front wheels - making it the first FWD Jaguar since the X-Type sedan.

The Jaguar E-Pace is expected to break cover sometime later this year, before it goes on sale in 2018. Given that it's an entry-level Jaguar crossover based on a less expensive platform, it could be the least expensive Jaguar in the portfolio, which may attract attention among premium car buyers. It will rival the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and the upcoming Mercedes GLB.

[Source: Auto Plus Reporter]