The Jaguar XE compact saloon will now come with the option of four-wheel drive for the first time, as part of a raft of upgrades added on for the new model year.
Available only with the 178bhp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel to UK buyers to start with, it’s expected that all-wheel drive could be extended throughout other models in the range at a later date.
Using the same torque on-demand system that’s in the new XF and F-PACE, power can be sent to the front wheels as and when it’s needed to create “a true all-weather sports saloon”, Jaguar says.
In normal driving, all of the engine power is sent to the rear axle to preserve the XE’s rear-wheel drive dynamics, but when a reduction in grip at the front is detected, the all-wheel drive engages.
XE models equipped with the four-wheel drive option also come with Jaguar’s Adaptive Surface Response, which automatically detects low-grip conditions and optimises the car’s setup to cope.
Adding around 110kg to the XE, fuel economy in the diesel dips slightly from 67.3mph to 60.6mpg, while CO2 emissions are upped from 109g/km to 123g/km.
As well as that, acceleration takes slightly longer in the all-wheel drive model; the regular Ingenium diesel can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, while the four-wheel drive version manages it in 7.5.
Jaguar is also making its new 10.2-inch InControl Touch Pro infotainment system available on the options list for the XE, having first debuted on the all-new XF, which was launched in August.
With better responsiveness than its predecessor, the InControl Touch Pro system also features improved graphics and an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, alongside compatibility with the Apple Watch.
Other new options for the XE include driver assistance systems like Lane Keep Assist and an Adaptive Speed Limiter, while a 17-speaker Meridian Sound System is also available.
The revamped Jaguar XE is available to order now, with prices starting from £26,990 and first deliveries of the new models planned to arrive early next year.
