India-Bound Jaguar E-Pace SUV Spotted Testing

The E-Pace will take on the likes of the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA

While most Jaguar aficionados from the yesteryears will scoff about the leaping cat gracing the grille of an SUV, the market says otherwise. The brand's first SUV, the F-Pace, has been well received, and by the looks of it, there's more from where that came from. No, we aren't talking about the geeky i-Pace just as yet; it's the baby in the range, the E-Pace, that has been snapped testing.   The E-Pace will be Jaguar's 'entry-level' SUV to take on the likes of the BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. One look at the spy shots quickly tells you that E-Pace looks like someone put the F-Pace in the photocopier at 70 per cent. In terms of overall size and proportion, it does appear to be half a size larger than its German rivals.

Although heavily camouflaged, it doesn't take long to spot trademark Jaguar design traits. For instance, the large mesh grille, the sloping roofline, the wide haunch and the slender taillamps peer through Jaguar's efforts of masking the design. In profile, the ORVMs and the alloy wheels borrowed from the Range Rover Evoque grab attention. The cab-forward design, the short overhangs, and the evidently shorter overall length (compared to the F-Pace) stand out as well. The sharp rake on the rear windscreen isn't hidden by the frame the manufacturer put around it to fool the paparazzi either.

(Jaguar F-Pace pictured)

The E-Pace is likely to be powered by the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines that can be found under the hood of its sedan siblings. For reference, the Ingenium diesel engine whips up 180PS/430Nm, whereas the petrol can be had in a 200PS/320Nm or a 240PS/340Nm tune. The motors are likely to be mated with Jaguar's slick-shifting 8-speed auto box, to deliver power to all four wheels.

We can expect a global debut later this year, which means that the Jaguar E-Pace should make its first appearance in India in 2018. It will positioned a rung above the Jaguar XE, so it is safe to assume a starting sticker price of around Rs 45 lakh. 

Spy shots via: Motor1