The XE factor

IT was a four-year project that started out with a clean sheet of paper and ended with a brand new compact sedan that not only drives sportily but also rides comfortably. The Jaguar XE is the culmination of a £2 billion (S$4.2 billion) investment, where designers and engineers were given the freedom to start from scratch in designing and developing a car whose modular architecture will also form the basis for future Jaguar models.

Leveraging on the Jaguar Land Rover Group's expertise in aluminium body construction, 75 per cent of the XE's monocoque structure consists of this lightweight alloy. It is used in the front of the car, where it joins high-strength steel towards the rear with the heavier metal helping to achieve the XE's perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution.

The doors are also made of steel but feather light magnesium is used for the cross beam and radiator frame. All these make the XE not only the lightest Jaguar saloon but also the stiffest. On this lightweight body, Jaguar designers created a four-door sedan with a long bonnet and an almost coupe-like styling. The front wheels are extended forward for a very short overhang, thus giving the XE its classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive profile. It also means the 4.67-metre long car has a very generous 2,835 mm wheelbase.