Some 50 years after the introduction of the iconic Jaguar Mark II, a new breed of lightweight sports saloon is set to be launched from the British car manufacturer to compete with the BMW 3 Series. The Jaguar XE is due to have its world premiere on September 8th in what is likely to be a star-studded event set to attract a huge global audience.
Along with the announcement of the date, more details of the new Jaguar are beginning to emerge such as the inclusion of what the company calls 'Integral Link' rear suspension, which will provide longitudinal and lateral stiffness and, according to Jaguar chassis guru, Mike Cross, should afford drivers sharper handling without losing any refinement or luxuriousness.
That high standard of driving dynamics being mooted also stems partly from Jaguar's use of the latest electric power assisted steering system, which, in conjunction with advanced software algorithms, is claimed to result in a greater scope for the setup in comparison to traditional hydraulic systems.
Anything else?
Despite being rear-wheel drive, the new Jaguar XE has drawn upon the knowledge base of its sister company, Land Rover, to develop a new traction control system called All Surface Progress Control. ASPC works electronically and is said to deliver the optimum amount of traction in even the most slippery of driving conditions without any driver input.