Felines are curious creatures. Aloof and erratic, they have nevertheless managed to win admiration, thanks to a blend of agility, intelligence and style that put them in good stead. That's exactly the approach Jaguar is taking to renew its fleet appeal with the new XE that boasts dynamism and style.
Considered as the most important car for the British carmaker in decades and as the only British model in its segment, the modus operandi of Jaguar's new car is probably to end the German dominion of the compact executive class, going up against rivals such as the Audi A4, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.Up close and Personal
In exterior design, the XE's impact focuses on shape, those Bi-Xenon head lights and lashings of chrome particularly around the side window trim.
The styling looks especially menacing from the nose - particularly in the rear view mirror of another car - and suitably upmarket. Interestingly, it also appears as if everything forward of the B-pillar has a slightly more intensive and aggressive design brief than the rump of the vehicle.
Nonetheless, the tail end still does an excellent job in propelling the shape forward, while perfectly restating the F-TYPE's themes in sedan form.
Considered as the most important car for the British carmaker in decades and as the only British model in its segment, the modus operandi of Jaguar's new car is probably to end the German dominion of the compact executive class, going up against rivals such as the Audi A4, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.Up close and Personal
In exterior design, the XE's impact focuses on shape, those Bi-Xenon head lights and lashings of chrome particularly around the side window trim.
The styling looks especially menacing from the nose - particularly in the rear view mirror of another car - and suitably upmarket. Interestingly, it also appears as if everything forward of the B-pillar has a slightly more intensive and aggressive design brief than the rump of the vehicle.
Nonetheless, the tail end still does an excellent job in propelling the shape forward, while perfectly restating the F-TYPE's themes in sedan form.
Inside the XE, you get a very snug cockpit with a high console that looks confined at first, but soon becomes extremely comfortable because it wraps both driver and passenger very securely, thanks to a raised transmission tunnel and high-set window line, which makes it feel more purposeful than its rivals.
This effect is also emphasised with the employment of the brand's famed 'Riva Hoop' dashboard surround (named after the bespoke Italian powerboats) in front that contains the dash within a continuous sweeping line.
Three Asian adults should fit nicely at the back and while its boot space is smaller than its rivals, it should have no problems seeing to the golf and grocery bags with its 450-litre capacity.
This effect is also emphasised with the employment of the brand's famed 'Riva Hoop' dashboard surround (named after the bespoke Italian powerboats) in front that contains the dash within a continuous sweeping line.
Three Asian adults should fit nicely at the back and while its boot space is smaller than its rivals, it should have no problems seeing to the golf and grocery bags with its 450-litre capacity.
The Drive
A jab at the start button sees the gear selector elegantly rise from the centre console, and the engine shudder into life. The XE debuts the heralded 'Ingenium' engine family, starting with the diesel powerplant in this car.
The characteristic diesel clatter is suppressed so well that the compression-ignition engine is as refined as its petrol half.
In the diesel, the eight forward gears of the transmission do a fine job of keeping the engine parked in the window between the 430Nm torque peak at 1,750rpm and the maximum power output of 177bhp at 4,000rpm.
The car is also the first Jaguar to feature an electrically operated rack, which is incredibly direct and uncoils naturally once you've applied lock, instilling the car with a sense of agility that makes it feel light on its feet.
This also means that you can easily live with the steering, whether backing out of a tight parking spot at the local neighbourhood carpark or making nifty manoeuvres out on the highway.
A jab at the start button sees the gear selector elegantly rise from the centre console, and the engine shudder into life. The XE debuts the heralded 'Ingenium' engine family, starting with the diesel powerplant in this car.
The characteristic diesel clatter is suppressed so well that the compression-ignition engine is as refined as its petrol half.
In the diesel, the eight forward gears of the transmission do a fine job of keeping the engine parked in the window between the 430Nm torque peak at 1,750rpm and the maximum power output of 177bhp at 4,000rpm.
The car is also the first Jaguar to feature an electrically operated rack, which is incredibly direct and uncoils naturally once you've applied lock, instilling the car with a sense of agility that makes it feel light on its feet.
This also means that you can easily live with the steering, whether backing out of a tight parking spot at the local neighbourhood carpark or making nifty manoeuvres out on the highway.
On the roads, the car settles quickly into corners, tracking cleanly and surely through bends of all types. The rear-wheel drive chassis always seems firmly planted but there's a definite sense of the car being pushed from the back and steered from the front - in other words, great balance.
The ride is similarly impressive, thanks to the F-TYPE's more sophisticated double-wishbone front suspension and a clever integral rear link setup that smothers bumps while keeping the wheels firmly in contact with the road.
Conclusion
Considering how competitive its rivals are, and how much the German carmakers have invested in their biggest-selling models, it is definitely no easy task for the XE to overthrow the powerhouses.
So the curiosity revolves around whether there are enough enthusiasts looking for a car like the XE. We believe there are because Jaguar has done an astonishing job with its new car, one that we're struggling to find fault with.
