What's the news?
Jaguar is using the Detroit Auto Show to give its first ever SUV an official name and it's F-Pace. A dramatic departure from current Jaguar badging (we had been expecting it to be called XQ), the F-Pace takes its name from Jaguar's classic 1960s advertising tag line of Grace, Pace and Space.
Based on a new aluminium chassis (related to that found under the current Range Rover Sport) the F-Pace will arrive in 2016 looking very, very similar to the C-X17 concept that Jaguar showed off last year. It will use the new Ingenium 2.0-litre petrol and diesel four-cylinder engine range (so 100g/km is on the cards) and there will almost certainly be a supercharged V8 R version to take on the likes of the Porsche Macan Turbo.
Anything else?
Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar, commented: "We received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the C-X17 concept car last year that we just had to make it a reality.
"The Jaguar F-PACE, inspired by the F-TYPE, represents a perfectly judged balance of performance, style and practicality. It offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car inspired exterior design, fused beautifully with a thoroughly practical and spacious luxury interior. The F-PACE is our family sports car."
Speaking in Detroit, Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Global Sales Director, said: "In 2015 we will celebrate Jaguar's 80th year. We have started it by announcing our first performance crossover which we consider to be the ultimate practical sports car - a car that builds on the marque's founding ideals of Grace, Pace and Space to become one of the most innovative Jaguars we've ever developed. The F-PACE has now begun its engineering and development testing programme ahead of the new model going on sale in 2016."
(Please note that the images are of the concept car, not the production version of the Jaguar F-Pace)
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