The growth in the luxury segment is in SUVs, and Jaguar is apparently prepared to address its lack of them. Which sounds odd, considering it’s joined with Land Rover, which only makes SUVs.
Jaguar is poised to follow up its soon-to-be-revealed F-Pace crossover with a larger “J-Pace” based on the Range Rover, according to CAR Magazine, complete with a rendering that makes it look like a jumbo-sized C-X17 concept.
Whereas the F-Pace is going to be derived from the structure underpinning the new Jaguar XE and redesigned XF sedans, the larger Jag crossover will be based from the also-aluminum Range Rover, according to CAR‘s sources. But designers are likely to sacrifice the Rover’s blocky proportions and useful approach angles for something visibly road-oriented. Like the F-Pace, a J-Pace is said to have no off-road intentions, instead being more like a tall Jaguar sedan in spirit.
If true, the J-Pace could arrive as a 2019 model. And it would sit alongside the XJ in the lineup, as the F-Pace corresponds to the XF. It sort of makes sense as a way to boost Jaguar’s sales where its competitors have.
It would make more sense, however, if JLR hadn’t spent the last several years fleshing out the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque lines. As if there weren’t enough overlap with the upcoming Discovery-badged Land Rovers. I could see a J-Pace billed as something like a Jaguar version of a Mercedes R-Class, but then that didn’t really go over well for Mercedes.
Still, with SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga greenlit, another tall Jag makes at least as much sense. It’ll be the Range Rover of SUVs. Oh, wait…
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