Jaguar XE to debut at 2016 Auto Expo
When launched, this 3 Series rival could be the first JLR product to be priced below Rs 40 lakh
The new XE is the smallest car Jaguar currently makes but it’s also the most important. Designed to take on the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class the all-new XE has already received high praise overseas. Click here to read more Bert’s exhaustive first drive review.
Jaguar is already doing quite well in the Indian market and the XE will undoubtedly be a shot in the sales arm. Internationally, the XE is available with a range of petrol and diesel engines displacing 2-litres. The diesels are available in 163PS and 180PS tunes while the petrol motor kicks out 200PS or 240PS. We expect Jaguar could offer all four options in India but the fire breathing 340PS supercharged V6 from the range topping XE R will be saved for later. Jaguar offers a six-speed manual along with an 8-speed auto overseas but the Indian cars will only ship with the automatic.
Jaguar will assemble the XE in India at its Pune plant. The company should launch the car at the Auto Expo with a price similar to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which puts it on the higher side of the price spectrum. Expect to shell out between Rs 37 and 42 lakh ex-Delhi for the XE based on engine and trim option. If so, this will be the first JLR product to sneak under the Rs 40 lakh mark in India and probably the only one to do so for a while as JLR has no immediate plans for an even more affordable vehicle.
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