The Jaguar E-Pace will receive a major mechanical and technological update for 2020, as part of a Jaguar Land Rover push to systematically revamp the brand’s line-up almost entirely by 2021.
The update will be similar to the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, with the compact SUV adopting an all-new platform, fresh plug-in and mild-hybrid powertrains, a substantial interior technology update and a minor cosmetic redesign.
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Like the recently revised Land Rover Discovery Sport, the new E-Pace will move onto JLR’s Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), which will give the crossover access to the brand’s current range of hybrid powertrains. Jaguar’s smallest SUV is the only remaining JLR product still based on the firm’s aging D8 underpinnings, which can trace its origins back to the company’s spell under Ford ownership.
The E-Pace’s platform migration will allow the SUV to accept Jaguar Land Rover’s latest 48-volt mild-hybrid architecture, which is currently offered on all automatic variants of the new Range Rover Evoque. The MHEV system comprises a 0.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a belt-driven starter-generator, which offers claimed fuel economy figures of up to 50.4mpg and is capable of delivering an extra 100Nm of torque on demand.
Following the update, E-Pace buyers will be offered JLR’s 197bhp, 247bhp and 296bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, along with either a 148bhp, 178bhp or 237bhp 2.0-litre turbo diesel. All six engines will be paired with the brand’s new MHEV architecture and mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and a four-wheel-drive system.
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Jaguar’s updated compact SUV will also be offered with plug-in hybrid technology for the first time, making use of the new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain which is destined for the new XE saloon and the updated F-Pace SUV. Specifications are yet to be confirmed for the new PHEV powertrain but, given the engine will be competing with the BMW 330e on the saloon market, it should produce around 250bhp and return upwards of 100mpg.
The E-Pace’s platform migration will also bring a host of interior updates, including JLR’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which comprises a 10.2-inch central screen and a separate lower display for the car’s heating and air conditioning systems. Elsewhere, the SUV’s cabin design will be adapted from the all-electric I-Pace SUV and the new Range Rover Evoque, adding a new steering wheel and a subtly reworked dashboard.
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