Frankfurt show: Jag’s sporty SUV lands

JAGUAR has teased a sneak look at the new modular platform that will underpin its next generation of cars – starting with a high-riding SUV.

The all-aluminium platform, using the same material as the British luxury brand’s XJ flagship and F-Type two-seater, “underpins the innovative future of the Jaguar brand”, according to the car-maker.

The Jag-badged SUV is due to be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt motor show.

The simple render looking at the rear of the concept features a curved, shapely SUV profile finishing in a tailgate-mounted spoiler that alludes to the jacked-up Jag having more sporty aspirations than off-roading.

A highlight is a wrap-around tail-light, offset with the leaping cat stretched out above a more stylised-looking “Jaguar” spelt out in individual letters across the rear.

The Jag-badged SUV has been spotted in the real world, although the images of the heavily disguised car show XF-style tail-lights above a pair of exhaust pipes cut into the lower diffuser.

The SUV, expected to go on sale in 2015, will use Jaguar’s newly developed supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine under the bonnet, and is also expected to use the twin-turbocharged 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre V6 diesel versions.

The vehicle is also expected to offer both all-wheel and front-drive versions once the production car rolls into showrooms.

Spy shots of a production mule hit the web last week, but failed to reveal much thanks to its heavily camouflaged XF body, but the raised ride height gave away its SUV underpinnings.

Jaguar will reveal more details when it rips the covers off the C-X17 concept at the Frankfurt show on Tuesday 10 September at 10am, Eastern Standard Time.

Also appearing on the British marque’s stand at Frankfurt will be the 404kW/680Nm XJR that arrives in Australia in December, and the XFR-S which is powered by the same engine and also scheduled for a local berth by the end of the year.