Thierry Bollore, Jaguar Land Rover’s incoming CEO, has some tough decisions to make regarding the Jaguar brand. Does it shift to selling electric vehicles only? Does it need fewer models that sell in higher volume? What to do about the slow-selling XE and XF sedans? These and other issues he decides on will shape Jaguar’s future.
F-Type: Jaguar officials say the F-Type is core to everything the brand stands for and that it will remain in the lineup, even if sales are microscopic. The brand reportedly is considering two possible successors to the F-Type. One retains the gasoline engine but moves the vehicle to a midengine layout, like the Chevrolet Corvette. The second ditches gasoline engines and transforms the F-Type into a battery-electric sports car. Reports out of England say Jaguar has trademarked the name EV-Type in case the electric version is chosen. The current F-Type, freshened this year with sleeker styling and a simplified powertrain lineup for the 2021 model year, soldiers on at least two more years before possibly being replaced or dropped.
XE: Despite a freshening last year, sales of the luxury compact sport sedan have been abysmal — just 780 were sold in the second quarter, down 31 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. It’s unlikely Jaguar will spend any more money on the XE trying to compete with the BMW 3 Series. Future plans for the XE are reported to be in flux.
XF: England’s Autocar magazine says Jaguar is considering dropping both the XE and midsize XF and replacing them with a smaller car, possibly a sporty hatchback. The XF sedan and wagon get a minor freshening for the 2021 model year that focuses on tweaks to the interior and exterior, and possibly more power. Its future beyond 2025 is being decided now.
XJ: Jaguar ended production of the flagship XJ sedan last summer after a 51-year run. Plans called for an electric XJ to be launched next year as a 2021 model. The Financial Times reported that the XJ has been delayed about a year as Jaguar Land Rover works to shore up its balance sheet. JLR is said to be recasting its product-cycle plan to give priority to profitable vehicles. The electric XJ, to be built on JLR’s new Modular Longitudinal Architecture, could arrive at dealers as a 2022 model.
E-Pace: The compact crossover arrived in 2017 and will see its first freshening this fall for the 2021 model year. Look for revised front and rear fascias, more aerodynamic headlights and interior improvements such as a bigger screen and infotainment-system upgrades.
Spy shots taken in the U.K. show the E-Pace with a digital display instrument cluster. JLR engineers could also coax a bit more power from the base 246-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four engine. A hybrid powertrain could also make the options list. The E-Pace could be reengineered in 2022 for the 2023 model year.
I-Pace: The first battery-electric vehicle from a major competitor to take on Tesla arrived in 2018, and though it has been a strong seller for Jaguar in Europe, it has struggled in North America. Jaguar made a software change in December that increased driving range between charges by 8 percent to 252 miles.
The 2021 European models are getting faster on-board chargers and JLR’s new corporate infotainment system, called Pivi Pro, which debuted on the 2020 Land Rover Defender. Those items are likely destined for North American models. Look for a freshening for the 2022 model year or possibly 2023.
F-Pace: A freshened version of Jaguar’s top-selling U.S. vehicle is expected to arrive this year for the 2021 model year. It will sport new front and rear fascias, smaller and more aerodynamic headlights, revised taillights, several interior upgrades — including an improved infotainment system and several cosmetic changes — and a bump in horsepower. Expect a hybrid version for the 2022 or ’23 model year.
J-Pace: The fate of Jaguar’s coming three-row crossover could be connected to that of the delayed electric XJ. Both are expected be underpinned by JLR’s new architecture, which can accommodate combustion engines, electric motors or both. The J-Pace would compete with rivals such as the BMW X7, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. The J-Pace could debut in 2022.