Jaguar is looking to capitalize on the expanding electric vehicle market as it has added a new R-Dynamic Black edition model to its E-Pace compact SUV line-up. Rather like the F-Type, it is the latest vehicle from the British car company to receive the new specification. It is available to order now, with prices starting from £40,945 (about $58,000).
According to The Times, Jaguar Land Rover predicted that it would grow to become a company with an annual turnover of $42.5 billion and profits of $4 billion within five years, after a shake-up that led to thousands of job losses in the United Kingdom. If the British car firm is serious about making this amount of money by the middle of the 2020s, then it has to hope that its cars will sell in an increasingly competitive market. Perhaps the latest E-Pace R-Dynamic Black could help them do that.
Despite this, it will face some stiff competition from the 2023 Porsche Macan, whose photos were recently revealed by Volkswagen's sister company. Dr. Michael Steiner, Porsche's research and development manager, said it will be the sportiest model in its segment and that it will provide 'reproducible' high performance.
This is going to be a close rivalry, so which model could do better in the future?
Let's find out how much we know about Porsche's and Jaguar's newest SUVs.
How Much Do We Know About The New Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic Black's Design?
Jaguar has added cosmetic tweaks over the standard Jaguar E-Pace, such as satin grey 19-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, rear privacy glass, and a panoramic sunroof. Gloss black replacements for the SUV's door mirror caps, grille surround, brightwork, and air intakes are also on offer.
According to Autocar, the E-Pace also gains a new exterior paint color, Ostuni White.
The interior has leather upholstery, air conditioning, a wireless smartphone charger, and the British car company's latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, which consists of a 12.3-inch digital driver display and an 11.4-inch curved touchscreen.
The digital dash offers a variety of contrasting layouts for the clocks and navigation instructions. The touchscreen also has Jaguar Land Rover's new, simplified menu structure, which means that the majority of the unit's most regular tasks can be performed within two taps from the home screen.
And there is more good news for Jaguar fans. The entry-level S specification now comes as standard with high-beam assist and memory settings for the chairs and door mirrors. SE cars also include a Meridian sound system, so expect high-fidelity audio and video components and systems.
How Much Do We Know About The New Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic Black's Engine And Performance?
For those who like choice when it comes to choosing a car's engine, the good news is that E-Pace buyers have plenty of options. The new Jaguar model has three diesels three gasoline engines, and one plug-in hybrid powertrain. The diesel range has a front-wheel-drive 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit, which produces 161 BHP and 300 Nm of torque. It is joined to a six-speed manual gearbox and has a claimed WLTP economy figure of 47.1 MPG. Fair play to Jaguar for offering diesel options at a time when the fuel is becoming increasingly unpopular throughout the world.
Sadly, the R-Dynamic Black specification is only available with Jaguar's mild-hybrid model of the same 2.0-liter diesel engine.
Many drivers like to have more power, and the trim level also comes with a powerful 201 BHP D200 MHEV unit or a P200 turbocharged 2.0-liter mild-hybrid unit. They are all joined to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
Could The 2023 Porsche Macan Trash The New Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic Black?
Porsche is looking to offer its customers a gasoline version of its upcoming Macan as well as an electric one. It will be the first model to be based on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings, but the technical specifications are limited aside from confirmation that it will share the same 800 V/350 kW charging capability as the Taycan.
But what makes the new Macan stand out are its smooth bumper and slim headlamps, features which the E-Pace does not seem to offer on the exterior. So far, the new Jaguar model has a better interior as the only information available about the Porsche's latest SUV's is that it has a new display and operating concept. At least the E-Pace provides drivers with a decent infotainment system.
In the future, the rivalry between these Jaguar and Porsche models could be rather close. So far, their engines are on a par, and the Macan has a decent exterior, but the E-Pace's interior seems more promising.