Jaguar updates the E-Pace

Jaguar’s E-Pace SUV that won the coveted SA Guild of Motoring Journalists’ ‘Car of the Year’ award two years ago has been updated, refreshed and now has a new look as well as the latest Pivi Pro infotainment. 

The interior sees the most dramatic of the changes with an in-your-face integrated 11,4-inch curved-glass HD touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard, which controls the new Pivi Pro infotainment system.

Chemically strengthened, the glass screen features two coatings; one which is anti-glare and a second that resists fingerprints.

The driver focussed interior also provides easier access to the larger stowage area in front of the new Drive Selector that houses a 15W wireless device charger. Driver touchpoints around the cluster are now wrapped in soft touch materials while the knee side contact area has been sculpted to provide improved luxury and comfort. 

A new Drive Selector is lower and wider and features an upper section finished with ‘cricket-ball’ stitching, the lower part being made of precision-engineered metal.

 A new steering wheel, which is also influenced by the design in the all-electric I-Pace performance SUV, features hidden-until-lit switches and metal gearshift paddles.

On the outside, all-LED headlights feature ‘Double J’ Daytime Running Light (DRL) signatures, which are available with optional Pixel LED technology to deliver increased resolution and brightness. A new grille mesh design with diamond detailing is influenced by the Jaguar heritage logo and features a contemporary Noble Chrome finish, while new side fender vents feature the iconic Leaper emblem.

The rear bumper now features a mesh insert that sits between the integrated tail pipes that are standard with four-cylinder petrol engines. All other engine derivatives gain new slim horizontal blade finishers. Inspired by the all-electric I-Pace, the all-LED rear lights feature Jaguar’s chicane graphic, showcasing the advanced technology and modernity of the overall design. 

A 1,5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is the latest member of the modular, Ingenium engine family, and is available in the E-Pace with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology, offering a significant 33 kg weight saving from the four-cylinder.

The P300e PHEV powertrain combines the 147 kW 1,5-litre three-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine and an 80 kW Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) motor to deliver a combined 227 kW/540 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6,5 seconds. CO2 emissions measure from 44 g/km and fuel economy is as low as 2,0l /100km. 

The compact ERAD motor is powered by a 15 kWh lithium-ion battery located under the boot floor. When fully charged it provides up to 55 km of all-electric range, enabling the new all-wheel drive P300e to complete the average daily commute of 30,2km in EV mode without requiring a recharge. 

The new E-Pace is also available with a 2,0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel and the latest 2,0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engines, all paired with AWD and nine-speed automatic transmissions. 

The 147 kW D200 2,0-litre four-cylinder diesel produces 430 Nm and features a selection of advanced engine technologies including friction-reducing steel pistons for the first time, while a variable vane turbo-charger and the new 2 500 bar piezo common rail injection system deliver even finer control of fuel delivered into the cylinders to optimise efficiency.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine is available in two power outputs, starting with a 184 kW/365 Nm P250 version accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 7,5 seconds. Heading up the petrol engine range is the 221 kW/400 Nm P300 variant which is available exclusively in the E-Pace 300 SPORT. The range-topping 300 SPORT does 0-100 km/h in 6,9 seconds and a maximum speed of 241 km/h.

All E-Pace models have Jaguar Drive Control featuring Comfort, Eco and Dynamic modes, which can be chosen manually by the driver based on road conditions. The settings, selected through a toggle switch next to the new Drive Selector, adapt the E-Pace’s steering, transmission, throttle and (when specified) Adaptive Damping calibrations. 

A new Adaptive Surface Response, which replaces Rain-Ice-Snow mode, automatically determines the most appropriate of three separate settings by monitoring the surface conditions every tenth-of-a-second and reacting within half a second.

To enable almost instantaneous start-up, Pivi Pro has its own dedicated power source, so navigation is ready as soon as the driver is behind the wheel, while the embedded apps available provide full functionality even without your smartphone. Further connected features include Google and Microsoft Outlook calendar integration enabling the driver to view work diaries and even join important calls through the hands-free system. 

Complementing the central 11,4-inch touchscreen is a new 12,3-inch HD Interactive Driver Display with enhanced graphics and a configurable layout which can show full screen navigation mapping with turn-by-turn instructions, digital dials, media, contact list or infotainment details. The interactive driver display works in conjunction with the latest generation full colour TFT Head-up Display which is brighter, with a larger information area and enhanced resolution.

The new E-Pace also features Jaguar’s ClearSight Interior Rear View Mirror technology to ensure an unobstructed view of the road behind. Using a wide angle rear-facing camera, the system feeds images to a high-definition screen within the frameless rear view mirror; unhindered by tall rear passengers, poor light or rain on the rear screen.

E-Pace pricing

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic S D200        R868,000

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic SE D200     R898,600

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic HSE D200   R938,800

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic S P250        R927,500

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic SE P250      R958,100

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic HSE P250   R998,300

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic S P300e      R1,165,500

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic SE P300e    R1,196,100

·                  E-Pace R-Dynamic HSE P300e  R1,236,300

·                  E-Pace 300 SPORT P300          R1,046,900

All prices include VAT but exclude CO2 tax.

 

Hilti expands its Ford Ranger fleet 

A good indicator of an economy on the move is fleet activity and 15 new Colorado Red Ford Ranger XL models have been added to Hilti South Africa’s fleet.

Ford has been a fleet provider to Hilti since 2010 and these new Rangers have grown the total footprint to 80 Ford Rangers, powered by the 2,2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, in Hilti’s nationwide operation. Ford South Africa was also able to meet Hilti’s exact vehicle requirements by offering Park Distance Control as well as other accessories such as a nudge bar and lockable tonneau cover on Hilti vehicles.

“When we launched the current Ranger, Hilti was one of the first fleet businesses to come on board and we’ve been building on that relationship ever since, starting from 10 vehicles up to the current 80,” says Yashalan Pillay, Corporate Rental and Leasing manager at Ford South Africa.

“Our relationship with Hilti would not have been possible without the ongoing support and commitment from Eqstra Fleet Services, the finance house of the total Hilti fleet. Eqstra and Ford SA share a strong working commitment to ensure that the Ford Ranger is number one on their LCV supply list,” concludes Pillay. 

Fleet confidence is enhanced by the implementation of Ford’s Ranger Support Team, which is available to all Ranger owners whose vehicle is still covered under Ford’s standard 4-year/120 000 km warranty. The moment the Roadside Assistance team is notified of a Ranger breakdown, the Ranger Support Team kicks into action.

From this point a single case manager oversees the case from start to finish and contacts the customer immediately to offer whatever support and assistance they require. Ford will arrange armed security to wait with the customer until the recovery vehicle arrives if required, organise a like-for-like loan car and book accommodation for the customer if necessary.

A key consideration behind choosing the 2.2 XL Double Cab model was the engine’s balance between performance and fuel efficiency, explains Dirk Dijkstra, General Manager of Hilti in South Africa.

“Globally Hilti is looking at sustainability to make sure we are more responsible in terms of emissions and fuel economy, so the 2,2-litre engine in the Ranger is a very good choice. Our teams at Hilti are happy with the choice; it has become something of a legend on the job site, and when people see it, they know that the solution is nearby.”