Hang on, that looks familiar...
Well, it ought to. Officially, this is our first look at the for-reals Jaguar F-Pace, but we've kind of been hardened to the overall shape thanks to the CX-17 concept car and the flood of pre-production and lightly camouflaged prototypes that have been seen out and about.
Still, this is significant. It's Jag's first ever SUV, and it will be a rival to the big-selling likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan and the new Mercedes-Benz GLC. It shares the same aluminium (mostly) chassis as the smaller XE saloon and the just-launched new XF, and it has the same engines - 2.0-litre four cylinder Ingenium diesels in 163- and 180hp forms, a 3.0-litre V6 300hp diesel and the supercharged V6 petrol from the F-Type with either 340- or 380hp. Turbocharged petrol Ingenium engines will also eventually be available. Four-wheel drive will be an option, rear-drive standard.
That's really all we know for now. Jag will finally, properly show the F-Pace off to the public in ten days' time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, when we'll get all the rest of the details. It's likely to go on and become the best-selling car in Jaguar's range though, so forget all your old preconceptions of Jag being exclusively a maker of saloons and coupés. It could also be, effectively, the replacement for the XF Sportbrake estate - Jag's chief designer Ian Callum told us last month that the business case for a new XF wagon was looking shaky. And it won't be the last Jag SUV. If it sells the way it's expected to, then Jaguar will almost certainly make a smaller version to compete with the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. A bigger version with seven seats? Possible, but then it's treading on Land Rover's toes so maybe not.
Kevin Stride, Jaguar Land Rover Vehicle Line Director said: "2015 is Jaguar's 80th anniversary and it has been a monumental year of transformation for the brand. First, with the introduction of the innovative Jaguar XE and followed closely by the class-leading all-new XF. Today is a proud moment for Jaguar as we launch the F-Pace, our first performance crossover."
Neil Briscoe - 4 Sep 2015