Jaguar will launch a facelifted F-Pace SVR later this year with a raft of changes both inside and out, helping the Brit in its fight against younger rivals, such as the BMW X3M Competition. The 2020 F-Pace update will be the last to include JLR’s 5.0-litre V8 motor before it’s succeeded by the same 4.4 as the aforementioned Bavarian. As such, we’re hoping Jaguar will turn the motor up to its 575hp maximum so the F-Pace’s second half of life will offer even more of the supercharged V8 muscle that’s already earned it plenty of fans.
Such a boost would bring the car into line with its sibling, the recently revamped and renamed F-Type R, while also clearing an enormous power gap to rivals like the aforementioned BMW, Alfa’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio and AMG’s GLC 63. Jaguar’s F-Pace has never lacked in performance or charm – as Nic concluded in his recent test - but its real-world performance arguably places it mid-pack when it comes to ultimate pace. An increase in punch wouldn't go amiss - even if it's far from necessary.
While the development car you see here is wearing a full wrap of camouflage, we can make out tweaks to the lights at the front and rear and – judging by the cladding – changes to the bumper on the nose. Our snapper’s have not yet managed to get a shot of the interior, but it’s fair to assume a similar raft of updates to the revised XE saloon, because the present dash layout is considered to be a weak point in the F-Pace. If it gets the full suite, there could be I-Pace-esque dual screens on the centre stack, with a larger infotainment screen above them and a digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver.
Beyond that, few changes are expected. The Jag’s already one of the best – if not the best – riding car of this hot SUV segment, it’s great handling and few people would complain about that design. Most of the 2020 F-Pace’s general updates will be centred around increasing electrification further down the line-up, meaning the SVR could look increasingly old school in the range. But while sales for the V8 F-Pace are predictably small compared with the other variants, we need not explain the value of having a brawny performance model that sits top of the pile. Especially one as widely loved as this.
Prior to the present global epidemic crisis, we’d have guessed an arrival sometime in the coming few months. But now, with manufacturer production schedules potentially impacted, who knows? For now, we’ll say sometime in 2020. No doubt JLR will be keen to get its mid-life F-Pace updates onto the road as part of ongoing efforts to recover its sales.
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