Jaguar has confirmed it will introduce an all-new car to its line-up, to go on sale in 2016.

Called the Jaguar F-Pace, it will be the Jaguar’s first sports utility vehicle (SUV).

The news was revealed at the North American International Auto Show, which is currently under way in Detroit, US.

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.”

The C-X17 was first showcased at the Frankfurt motor show in 2013.

The new Jaguar will couple class-leading interior space and exceptional on-road dynamics with five-seat usability to produce a true performance crossover, according to the luxury car manufacturer.

It will encapsulate everything that Jaguar stands for: beautiful design, precise handling, a supple ride, luxurious interior finishes and cutting-edge technology, it adds.

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.”

The F-Pace will be manufactured in Solihull, UK, and further details of the car will be revealed later this year - #FPACE.


STRONG PERFORMANCE

Jaguar is part of Jaguar Land Rover, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of premium luxury vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover achieved solid sales performance in 2014, retailing 462,678 vehicles, up 9 per cent versus prior year. 

It was the company’s fifth successive year of growth in sales and its global performance for 2014 shows a balanced portfolio with sales up across all key regions: 122,010 in the China Region, up 28 per cent; 96,505 for Overseas, up 1 per cent; 86,310 in Europe, up 3 per cent; 82,872 in the UK, up 7 per cent, and 74,981 in North America, up 2 per cent.

Land Rover had its best ever year with sales reaching 381,108, up 9 per cent year-on-year. The company sold more Range Rovers, Range Rover Sports and Range Rover Evoques in 2014 than ever before, on the back of continued strong customer demand.

Jaguar sales were up 6 per cent for the year, retailing 81,570 vehicles. The F-Type, which has just completed its first full year of sales, continues to raise brand awareness around the world. The XF consistently drives Jaguar volumes and in 2014 has recorded its best year of sales to date. This is Jaguar’s strongest full year performance in nearly a decade.   

Jaguar Land Rover has collected over 100 international awards and honours in 2014 for its products and for many other areas of the business. Heading the list is a prestigious 2014 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, reflecting sustained success with global exports to over 170 countries. 

It has also been a historic year for manufacturing, with the business expanding from three plants to five. Jaguar Land Rover opened its first ever overseas manufacturing plant, in China, as well as a new engine manufacturing centre in the West Midlands.