Nobody needs a Jaguar, you just have to want it. A cheeky but realistic approach by Ian Callum, chief designer of Jaguar, at the presentation of the revised XE. The craving for the British luxury middle-class sedan, the 2014 came on the market, holds at least in Germany within limits. The models from Munich, Stuttgart and Ingolstadt dominate this segment too much. Therefore, new optical and internal stimuli of XE available from 43 690 Euro to make in this country persuasion.
A little more sportiness
Outside Ian, since 1999 chief designer at Jaguar, has only acted. A wider radiator grille and newly styled bumpers make for a bit more sportiness, full-LED headlights and turn signals with flowing graphics complete the update on the elegant coupehaft drawn sheet metal dress of the small Jaguar. The R-Dynamic models also feature aircraft wing-like profiles on the front side cooling air intakes and the dark lower part of the rear apron for added performance.
The new multifunction steering wheel fits comfortably in your hand
In terms of quality and workmanship of the materials used, the alliance with the German premium manufacturers has now succeeded. The hard plastic in door panels, dashboard and center console is history, as is fabric seats. Today, the surfaces feel pleasantly soft and you sit in seats made of supple animal skin ex works. Chic applications, on request also in fine precious woods, continue into the rear passenger compartment. The new multifunction steering wheel below the two HD touchscreens in sizes 10 and 5,5 inches, which are arranged in the style of a “flight deck”, is easy to hold. Right in front of it, the first inductive charging station available in a Jaguar awaits the driver's smartphone. Quickly pressed the start button in the center console, now the friends of the stage-ready appearance of the automatic rotary control from the sinking must be brave. The British have replaced it with the Jaguar F-TYPE-inspired SportShift gear selector lever and a rocker switch for Jaguar Drive Control.
ClearSight is not necessarily for everyone
The scrutinizing look in the rear-view mirror makes for a surprise. It appears the crisp image of a mounted on the roof of the XE wide-angle camera. Although this is above every Sitzhühnen on the back seat, however, especially wearers of glasses have to get used to the rapidly required focus or immediately switch to the "normal" rearview mirror. Or to renounce the 600 Euro expensive detail entirely. The engine range of the XE has also been redesigned by Jaguar. The manual entry-level diesel and the base gasoline flew for lack of demand from the program.
Top model meets all wishes for dynamism
Instead, this Jag now uses a diesel with 180 PS, either with rear or all-wheel drive, and two petrol engines with 250 PS (rear-wheel drive) and 300 PS (all-wheel drive), always in combination with an eight-speed automatic from ZF. The diesel drives the 1640 kg heavy sedan with a maximum torque of 430 Nm in the French Maritime Alps with a lot of pressure through the serpentines. Sparfüchse among the drivers of the British luxury brand should be happy about a consumption of five liters. Pardonable just under three liters approved the top model, which fulfills all wishes for dynamism and suppleness even with fast cornering with 365 Nm, for which Jaguar however also at least scarcely 58 000 Euro into account. You just have to want him, this Jaguar.
Text and photos: Solveig Grewe
