In the run-up to the launch of its first crossover sports utility vehicle, Jaguar Cars’ PR machinery has been whipping up interest and curiosity amongst all of us with timely, selective leaks about the vehicle. As it is, there is enough public frenzy surrounding the F-PACE and its scheduled official unveiling at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

For those who have been too caught up doing other stuff or have been caught in a time warp, here is a short intro to the Jaguar F-PACE. Coming from the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) combine, where Jaguar has always focused on cars (sedans, coupés and saloons) and Land Rover has always stayed in the SUV domain, the F-PACE is a big departure. Now, we know the next seemingly logical question you might have could be “Will Land Rover then launch a car in the future?” The answer to that is “Very unlikely”, but who knows.

The F-PACE is a crossover based on the Jaguar C-X17 design concept that was originally displayed in 2013. While the concept was meant to showcase the possibilities, the F-PACE is the final road-worthy vehicle that has been derived from the C-X17 – created by Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum. Based on the snatches of the design evident from the camouflaged car that has been seen testing, and the renderings that have since surfaced in many media sources, the F-PACE bears a strong resemblance to other Jaguar cars.

The design DNA is clearly intact, yet, there is more aggression and a upright stance that clearly identify its crossover character.

On Wednesday, Jaguar released new images of the camouflaged F-PACE and talked a bit about the vehicle’s test results. The official statement says that the vehicle features sports-car derived chassis systems and has been evaluated on the same demanding roads as all other Jaguar vehicles. “This is a performance SUV designed around people who love driving.”

Quoting Mike Cross, Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar, the statement says, “We haven’t made any compromises or exceptions: the new F-PACE had to be a true Jaguar and had to deliver the same dynamics DNA. We’ve tested ride and handling to the limit in all environments and in all conditions, and the result is that the new F-PACE is as engaging and rewarding to drive as it is comfortable and quiet. As soon as you get into the vehicle you know immediately that it’s a good place to be.”

The new F-PACE uses Jaguar’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture, and is said to have been designed to handle with precision and control without sacrificing ride comfort.

“Taking full advantage of the body structure’s inherently high stiffness, the sophisticated double wishbone front suspension and Integral Link rear suspension provide the best possible starting point: tuned to perfection, they make the new F-PACE incredibly responsive yet also ensure that the impacts, undulations and extreme cambers of even the most challenging roads are handled with ease”, said that the official communication.

Jaguar has also said that the team has managed to incorporate all of the learning from the F-TYPE, giving the electric power-assisted steering system even greater feedback. “Combined with the torque vectoring technology first developed for F-TYPE and the torque on-demand all-wheel drive system, the new F-PACE delivers outstanding agility in all weathers and on all surfaces”, states the Jaguar release.

More details about the F-PACE will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The crossover will be launched in 2016.

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