Jaguar E-Pace Makes In-the-Metal Debut With Two Turbocharged Four-Pots

Last month, Jaguar revealed its plans to head downmarket a bit in the crossover segment with the new-for-2018 compact E-Pace. With that announcement came a few quick teaser images. Recently, the E-Pace made its official in-the-metal debut, and we have all the details.

The first thing that was evident in the teaser images and even more evident now that we get to see the entire E-Pace is its relationship to the F-Type. This compact SUV’s ties to the F-Type include its LED headlights, the short overhangs, and teardrop shape of the side windows. Other sporty aspects include its sweeping roofline, powerful haunches, sharp-creased fenders, and slim taillights.

Buyers can pick up the E-Pace in one non-metallic color, seven metallic colors, and two premium metallic hues. The non-metallic color includes Fuji White; the metallics include Borasco Grey, Firenze Red, Caesium Blue, Yulong White, Indus Silver, Santorini Black or Corris Grey; and the premium metallics include Farallon Pearl Black or Silicon Silver.

2018 Jaguar E-Pace (Credit: © Jaguar)

Surprisingly, the E-Pace has just two engines, and both are 2.0-liter turbocharged Ingenium powerplants. The base engine produces 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, while the optional engine ups the power to 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Both engines will pair with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. During cruising, the AWD system will disengage the rear wheels, helping save on fuel economy, and it takes just 300 milliseconds to re-engage.

With the 246-horsepower engine, the E-Pace will hit 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, while the 296-horsepower engine will drop this to just 5.9 seconds.

On top of being quick, the chassis is tuned for plenty of twist. As standard, the E-Pace comes with stiff bushings, cast-aluminum front knuckles, aluminum suspension bits, and more.

Optionally, buyers can add an Adaptive Dynamics system that monitors road conditions every two milliseconds and adjusts the damping force every 10 milliseconds. This system has two settings: Normal and Dynamic.

2018 Jaguar E-Pace (Credit: © Jaguar)

The E-Pace will come in four trims: base, S, SE, and HSE. The latter three trims will have an available R-Dynamic Design package, which is the option you’ll need to check to get the 296-horsepower engine. This package will up the sportiness of the small SUV with an updated bumper that features deeper air inlets, fog lights, body-colored side sills, a gloss-black rear lower valance, satin-chrome front-grille details, sport seats, and more.

Jaguar expects to have the E-Pace in showrooms in early 2018. It will start from $38,600 for the base model and top out at $53,100 for the R-Design HSE trim.

To show off the E-Pace’s abilities, Jaguar debuted it with a badass barrel roll, which you can see in the video below.