Nothing happens by accident in the car industry. And that's despite the casual air big carmakers sometimes like to project around future models. That's why you'll often see what's clearly a
production ready concept
sitting on a motorshow stand only to be told it's a feasibility study, or a reaction-getter, or just a bit of a tease. The automotive equivalent of "This old thing? It's just something I threw together..."
C-X17 'feasibility study' turns out to be ... feasible
Which is why we're profoundly unsurprised by Jaguar's confirmation it will be producing what's basically the
the C-X17 concept
that we saw at the Frankfurt motor show in 2013, and pretty much unchanged to judge from these pictures. The so-called F-PACE (already dubbed the FACE-PALM in the PH office for no particular reason other than it sounds funny) is set to go on sale in 2016. And although the term SUV is conspicuously lacking from the official press release (which promises a "highly efficient five-seat performance crossover",) that's what it is.
Bringing us to Jaguar's coy protestations that "we received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the C-X17 concept car that we just had to make it a reality." We're too polite to dispute that, obviously, but we'll just add that the typical development time for a new model is around three years, and Jaguar insiders have certainly been talking of the F-PACE as a done deal practically since we first saw it.
F-PACE will share much with the XE range
Other details are thin on the ground at the moment, although the official release does confirm that the F-PACE will sit on the same aluminium architecture that will underpin the
new XE saloon
, which we'll finally get to drive later this month, and that it will use the company's recently developed four-wheel drive 'all surface progress control' systems - that's clever traction control.
The shared XE underpinnings mean that most versions will be powered by Jaguar's new Ingenium four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and it's a fair bet that brawnier versions will have V6s and maybe even V8s. Jaguar insiders have previously indicated that the F-PACE will effectively serve as an alternative to an XE wagon, so don't be surprised if we don't see a pure estate version of the new car. Oh, and we're also promised "class leading interior space", which is a bold claim given how roomy rivals like the BMW X3 are.
So it's happening, but is it a good idea? We'll leave that one up to you. But it's fair to say that the runaway success of smaller premium-badged SUVs meant that Jaguar really didn't have much alternative than to join the party, even as the sister brand to a company that just makes SUVs. Let us know what you think...
UPDATE
Off the back of the announcement of the F-PACE Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed its recruitment drive continues unabated and a new production line will be constructed at Solihull creating 1,300 new jobs. Described as a 'factory within a factory', JLR claims it as "Europe's biggest aluminium bodyshop and final assembly hall" and comes on top of the £1.5bn the firm has already invested in such technologies.
Traditionally home to Land Rover, Solihull currently builds the aluminium Range Rover and Range Rover Sport alongside more traditional products like the Defender and Discovery. The XE is the first time Jaguars have been built at Solihull but with addition of the related F-PACE JLR is clearly gearing up for an expected increase in demand.
Interestingly the press release announcing the expansion makes special mention of JLR's open door policy for members of the armed services making the transition into civilian work. "Following its commitment to enhancing employment opportunities for former service personnel in the wake of the Invictus Games, Jaguar Land Rover is welcoming applications from military personnel who are leaving or have left the services," it says. Whatever your background, applications for the new jobs are now being accepted.
[Additional reporting: Dan]