World Premier of Jaguar XE at London's Earl's Court

The Jaguar XE sports saloon was revealed to the world yesterday during a star-studded event held at Earl's Court in London, writes Trish Whelan. It was the first showing of the performance-orientated Jaguar XE S.

The XE is aimed at a younger generation of buyers, offering potential customers a dynamic driver's car and a fresh alternative to current German rivals.

Jaguar experts said at the launch that it offers exhilarating performance, precise handling and a supple ride. They expect it to appeal to those drivers looking for something different and with a balance of distinctive design, technical innovation and class-leading driver dynamics.

A true driver's car, the rear-drive XE redefines the concept of the sports saloon thanks to its advanced lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior, and the car's ride and handling.

It now completes the Jaguar saloon car range, sitting below the XF and XJ models.

XE is manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant in a new purpose-built facility which is part of a £1.5bn investment creating 1,700 UK jobs.

Irish prices are expected to be competitive against German rivals, and are expected to start below €40,000. This new Jaguar is expected to help double the brand's sales here after its arrival towards the end of Q1, 2015.

The car boasts the lowest cost of ownership of any Jaguar and is also the most environmentally sustainable.

While we could explore the prototype of the car from every angle, we were just able to peek inside the windows at the interior, as the car's doors remained firmly closed. We're told the cabin offers 'outstanding' levels of comfort and spaciousness, with 'exquisite materials and finishes, combined with traditional Jaguar craftsmanship which make this an interior like nothing else in the class'.

Engines include the supercharged 3.0 V6 petrol engine generating 340hp and 450 Nm of torque. This high-revving engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift controls. With its huge reserves of power, the XE takes just 5.1 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint.

The XE S will be joined by other models powered by highly-efficient 2.0, four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines matched to smooth-shifting six-speed manual, and eight-speed automatic transmissions.

The diesels - part of Jaguar's new Ingenium engine family developed and built inhouse - provide 'exemplary' fuel consumption and C02 emissions from 75mpg (3.8 L/100kms) and 99g/km.

The aluminium-intensive Jaguar XE is the first model developed from Jaguar Land Rover's new modular vehicle architecture and Jaguar say it will set the standard for driving dynamics in the midsize segment.

The XE is the lightest, stiffest and most aerodynamic Jaguar saloon ever built. It is also the first Jaguar to be equipped with electric power steering, tuned to provide exceptional responsiveness and feel, but with lower energy consumption than hydraulic systems.

Gerard O'Farrell, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Ireland said yesterday that he is quietly confident that everyone who test drives the new Jaguar XE will want one!

Pictured at Earl's Court yesterday for the reveal was Jaguar Land Rover Ireland's Marketing Manager, Melanie McCourt.

Full details of the range will be announced at the Paris Motor Show in early October.