Jaguar XE to be manufactured in China - Report

26/12/2014 - 15:13 Jaguar XE, Jaguar Paranjay Dutt

JLR's Changshu facility will also make the Discovery Sport.

Jaguar has decided to use its Changshu production plant in China to manufacture the upcoming XE sedan, a report by Automotive News suggests, although no official announcement has been made. The car goes on sale in Europe next year while an Indian arrival is expected in 2016.

Jaguar XE front at the 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show — The Jaguar XE will reach India in 2016.

Currently the Evoque is made at the facility while the Discovery Sport will join soon. It's expected to reach its 130,000 capacity by 2016, while the recently announced Brazil plant (with a capacity of 24,000 vehicles per year) will also start production the same year (2016).

The British car maker could begin assembling the XE in India from 2016, a previous report stated. The car will be made available in a total of five variants, namely the base SE, Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport, and the top-spec S. There are a total of five engine options available for the vehicle (all being four-cylinder units except the range topping 335 hp, 450 Nm producing 3-litre V6).

The range of 2-litre four cylinder engines includes two diesels and two petrols. The diesel lineup includes one that produces 161 hp and 380 Nm of maximum torque, and a more powerful 177 hp and 430 Nm producing version. In case of the petrols, there's the 197 hp and 320 Nm producing turbocharged engine, and a more powerful version that makes 237 hp and 340 Nm of maximum power and torque.