Jaguar to out F-PACE Porsche Macan

Jaguar has confirmed its first ever SUV, the curiously-named F-PACE, will make its global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show in September before going on sale globally in 2016, and it will set a new standard in terms of dynamic performance.

That's the word from Jaguar global brand director Steven De Ploey, who told motoring.com.au that the F-PACE will surpass the current benchmark, Porsche's Macan.

"From a competitive set point of view, Macan is the dynamic reference to which we've developed the F-PACE and we're confident that we can meet if not beat that proposition, and exceed it in many areas," said De Ploey.

The Jaguar brand boss's fighting words are sure to raise a few eyebrows in Zuffenhausen, but the British luxury brand is clearly keen for a bit of biffo, by holding the F-PACE's global premiere deep in the heart of enemy territory in Germany at the Frankfurt motor show – traditionally strongholds of Porsche, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The new mid-sized SUV will go up against the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Porsche Macan.

Like Porsche with its Macan, Jaguar describes its new SUV as a “performance crossover” to avoid it competing directly with the Discovery Sport.

Designed by Ian Callum, the new F-PACE will take plenty of inspiration from the C-X17 concept that previewed it, as evidenced by a series of spy shots. the new mid-sized SUV will go up against the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Porsche Macan.

Few technical details are known about the new British-built SUV, which was previewed in the form of the C-X17 in 2013 (pictured) then teased again at the 2015 Detroit motor show in January.

Power is expected to come via the company's range of Ingenium four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines that will debut on this year's all-new XE mid-size sedan, which will be followed by the new XF in early 2016.

The new SUV will be capable of handling hybrid powertrains confirmed the Jaguar executive, but he wouldn't be drawn on whether F-PACE will debut hybrid tech for Jaguar.

"The architecture that you see [in F-PACE], the aluminium intensive architecture, can take any of those [electric/hybrid] technologies. But I can't share with you today what will be the range of engines in that car, F-PACE," he said.

Entry-level models of the 4.7-metre long Jag SUV will rival models such as the Audi Q5, BMW X4 and even the "Audi Q6 – when it comes to market," said De Ploey.

There may even be room for a hard-hitting eight-cylinder performance version of the F-PACE, something Jaguar is no doubt keeping up its sleeve to knock the Porsche Macan from its perch.

Jaguar will start shipping the F-PACE to customers from mid-2016 and it should be on sale in Australia late that year, said Tim Krieger, Jaguar Land Rover Australia's general manager, communications and public relations.

He noted that together with the late 2015 launch of the Jaguar XE, the company's all-new BMW 3 Series rival, the company's sales volumes will improve greatly.

"XE talks to a new audience that jaguar hasn’t spoken to for a long time. We see great volume opportunities there, but F-PACE being in that SUV crossover segment, that's where the volume is too, so we expect it to be a very popular model.

"XE and F-PACE should be very warmly received in Australia," said Krieger. "We now have a regular pre-launch communications to customers in Australia who opt in, and those numbers are increasing steadily every week."