Rear-biased all-wheel drive and clever suspension

The E-Pace offers all-wheel drive as standard on the 110kW, 132kW (diesels) and 183kW (petrol) engines. However all-wheel drive with Active Driveline is only available on the 221kW petrol and 177kW diesel variants.

According to Jaguar, “In normal conditions, the system intelligently distributes torque between the front and rear to maximise stability and handling, or fuel economy, where appropriate. On slippery surfaces the system can send almost all the engine’s power to the rear if the front axle loses traction”.

Mike Cross, Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity at Jaguar said: “With the E-PACE, our aim was to develop a Jaguar SUV that feels and responds with the character of any of our rear-wheel drive vehicles. It was fundamental to us that E-PACE delivers exceptional drive dynamics, yet is refined and comfortable, and this was achieved with intelligent solutions, such as the compact Integral Link rear suspension and the semi-solid mounted front subframe. Here is an all-wheel-drive compact performance SUV that has the precision and body control to make the E- PACE as rewarding for the driver as it is comfortable for the passengers.”

The E-Pace also offers a configurable dynamics package with continuous variable dampers that monitor the vehicle’s movements every two milliseconds and calculate the required damping force every 10 milliseconds. Drivers can select both Normal and Dynamic settings for the Adaptive Dampers through a Configurable Dynamics system, as part of the JaguarDrive Control system. The modes are:

• Normal – an optimum balance of performance, control and comfort for regular journeys
•  Dynamic – a more engaging driving experience, with dedicated Dynamic settings for a wide range of vehicle systems. Depending on the vehicle specification, these can include the steering, throttle response, Adaptive Dynamics, AWD/Active Driveline, transmission shift strategy, Dynamic Stability Control and Torque Vectoring by Braking

ECO – modifies settings to optimise fuel economy and encourage a more efficient driving style, with revised settings for throttle response, automatic transmission, climate control and other interior comfort features

•  Rain, Ice and Snow – enhances stability in low-grip conditions with revised settings for Dynamic Stability Control, throttle response and automatic transmission