Jaguar has always had a certain appeal. An appeal that comes from an air of elegance, luxury and class coupled with an underlying edge and mystery, especially in the sportier models. Or perhaps that’s just my British schooling (in Lesotho) speaking.
I have never been much of a car nut. I have covered many kilometres driving around Southern Africa and have generally focused on driveability, comfort, design and functionality. Aesthetics are important to me.
A couple of years ago, a second-hand Jaguar X-Type made its way into our garage and was part of the family for 6 wonderful years. When we sold it, the missus actually shed a tear. Since then, I have watched, with great interest, as the manufacturer has evolved with the hope that, perhaps one day, there’ll be another Jag parked in garage.
With the Jaguar XE, which Jaguar South Africa will be launching in South Africa in September, I’m definitely looking to get a test drive. In Europe, they gave one to Idris Elba to drive from London to Berlin, where he had a deejaying gig. From looking at how they’ve built the vehicle and the goodies they put in it, I’d love to do a Joburg to Cape Town drive in it ::hint hint::
They have used an aluminium-intensive monocoque (Dictionary.com: “a type of vehicular construction in which the body is combined with the chassis as a single unit”) which is said to make the #XE light but sturdy. It is “the stiffest, most aerodynamic Jaguar saloon car ever built, and the first Jaguar to be equipped with electric power steering” and economical, which is a critical consideration in this day, with petrol prices rising and rising at will.
The interior finishing is beautiful, the Head-Up Display (HUD) – which draws from military jet technology, shows speed, navigation and gear selection – and the entertainment system looks banging. From an engine perspective, there are various diesel engines to choose from or you could go for the F-TYPE supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine.
Jaguar SA will be releasing more information on specs for SA prior to launch. If you are on the lookout for a new ride, give it a spin.