Jaguar will launch the brand’s first-ever SUV, the F-Pace, in India on October 20, 2016, in grand style. Company sources say a 60-foot mock-up of London’s The Shard skyscraper is being constructed on Marine Drive in Mumbai for the F-Pace release. The tallest building in the UK – 1,016 feet, with 95 floors – the Southwark structure looks like a shard of glass (hence, the name) and is a symbol of excellence in British engineering. Jaguar wants to convey the same superiority with the F-Pace at the India launch.
The F-Pace will initially be made available in two diesel options. The base model will get the 2.0-litre 180hp Ingenium diesel engine, which recently debuted in the XF sedan. The other is the 3.0-litre V6, which puts out a lusty 300hp and 700Nm of torque. There will also be a 2.0-litre 240hp petrol version, but not before February 2017.
The F-Pace is expected to launch in three trim levels – Pure, Prestige and R-Sport – though a limited-run First Edition model could also be offered. In terms of equipment, the base Pure trim gets features such as cruise control, 18-inch alloy wheels, two-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power adjust front seats, InControl Touch infotainment system, All-surface Progress Control system and brake pad wear indicator to name a few. The Prestige additionally gets Taurus leather upholstery, reverse-parking camera, headlamp washers, exterior chrome detailing and an auto-dimming internal rear-view mirror.
The R-Sport gets a different body kit, LED headlamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, mood lighting, larger front brakes, gesture-control tailgate, front seats with memory, electric-adjust steering column, reclining rear seat, a larger InControl Touch Pro infotainment system and surround-camera system.
The limited-run First Edition will add in a panoramic sunroof, Meridian audio system, Windsor leather upholstery, and 20-inch alloy wheels to the mix. Unlike the tepid response to the new XF sedan launched in September, enquiries for the F-Pace in Indian showrooms have been encouraging. However, pricing will be crucial. Dealers hope that the benefit of a sharp devaluation of the British Pound will be passed onto Indian customers through an aggressive launch price. Jaguar is tight-lipped on the F-Pace’s pricing though, which we understand is still a bit fluid because of fluctuations in currency rates. We estimate the base 2.0-litre diesel F-Pace to cost around Rs. 65 lakh, rising to around Rs. 90 lakh for the fully-loaded 3.0-litre diesel.