The Jaguar F-Pace receives a raft of visual and technical updates as it heads into 2021, and for the first time, it will also be available to order as a plug-in hybrid. Much of the aesthetic changes focus around the front of the car as it gets sleeker, more feline-like LED headlights and an enlarged grille that incorporates Jaguar’s heritage logo-inspired diamond detailing.
In addition to a new front bumper design that includes dark mesh detailing and reshaped air intakes, there is also a new bonnet that extends to the leading edge of the car and does away with the fussy shut line that the SUV previously had. The F-Pace comes with 19-inch wheels, while the high-spec HSE model gains 21-inch wheels. There is a total of 12 different wheel options available.
Those new headlights carry a ‘Double J’ lighting signature — in case you needed reminding that this is a Jaguar — and are available with the company’s latest Adaptive Driving Beam tech. This name is what Jaguar calls its matrix lighting, and it can adjust and mask parts of its illuminated field to avoid dazzling other road users. Neater rear lights mimic the ‘Double Chicane’ style, which first appeared on the electric I-Pace.
On the interior there are more significant changes afoot, most noticeable being the new 11.4-inch curved touchscreen display that appears to float out from the centre console. This alone is a massive improvement on the outgoing F-Pace. It uses a chemically strengthened glass screen that has two coatings to reduce glare and make it easier to clean away fingerprints.
The infotainment system is now powered by the Pivi Pro system, which is much more powerful in terms of processing speed and eliminates lag, something that plagued older JLR models. A more straightforward menu system means that users can complete 90 per cent of typical tasks with only two taps of the screen, thus reducing distraction. Both Apple and Android smartphone connectivity is supported, and a wireless charging pad in the centre console helps ensure your device’s battery is well charged.
Gone is the pop-up rotary drive selector and in its place is a more modern item that is better suited to the interior. With ‘cricket-ball’ stitching on the upper part and a metallic lower section, it provides a more tactile control that fits better in your hand and is nicer to use. The inner door cards include a new grab handle, and the electric window switch controls move from the top of the door to a more conventional position. Buyers will be able to choose between suitably premium materials for the interior, including aluminium and open-pore wood veneers.
Those front seats gain a wider cushion and new massage functions to improve comfort, while Jaguar says that it has made improvements to the coverage of the heating and cooling areas of the seats. On some models, Jaguar embosses its Leaper motif into the headrests, and tags that say ‘Est.1935 Jaguar Coventry’ on the sides of the seats serve as a reminder to the brand’s heritage. Following the introduction in the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, the F-Pace will also receive the latest cabin air ionisation Nanoe technology. It has a new filtration system that can trap ultra-fine particles at microscopic levels to improve the air quality inside the cabin.
A range of petrol and diesel engines will continue to be available with the F-Pace, but the biggest news is the introduction of a plug-in hybrid variant. Called the P400e, it combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver a combined output of 398bhp 640Nm of torque. The electric motor is powered by a 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery that is located in the rear of the car and on a single charge can provide a zero-emission driving range of up to 33 miles. Better still, it can refill the battery to 80 per cent capacity with a 32kW DC rapid charge in 30 minutes. Even using a 7kW AC home charger can fill the battery to the same 80 per cent in 1 hour 40 minutes.
In electric mode, the 141bhp motor can whizz the F-Pace along at speeds of up to 87mph and delivering 275Nm means it feels punchy too. It’s the most potent F-Pace in the core range and can sprint from 0-60mph in an even 5 seconds yet emits only 49g/km of CO2 and is capable of up to 130.2mpg.
Other models in the range will benefit from mild hybrid (MHEV) technology that uses a 48-volt lithium-ion battery along with a Belt integrated Starter Generator (BiSG) to harvest energy usually lost when slowing down or braking. The BiSG redeploys the energy to add more power to the engine when accelerating as well as making the engine stop/start function smoother.
Making up the diesel range of engines are two versions of the turbocharged four-cylinder power unit with 161bhp and 201bhp respectively. Two 3.0-litre straight-six cylinder engines produce 296bhp, one with and one without the MHEV hardware. Petrol engines start with the 247bhp blown four-cylinder. From there it moves up to straight-six engines that use both turbocharger and an electric supercharger to produce 335bhp and 395bhp outputs. All engines use an eight-speed automatic all-wheel drive transmission.
One additional new feature is a security system called Guardian Mode. Initially available only in the UK, it lets owners set a timer through the Secure app that identifies times when the car should be inactive, such as when you’re asleep or in work. If the vehicle moves in any way, you are immediately alerted.
The MY21 Jaguar F-Pace goes on sale later this year, with the plug-in hybrid model set to follow in 2021.
Keyword: Jaguar adds plug-in power to updated F-Pace