We’ve heard scarcely anything about the upcoming Jaguar crossover since it debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show as the Jaguar C-X17 concept. Now, more than six months later, our spy photographers spotted the luxury crossover testing under heavy camouflage at the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack.
This crossover mule is slightly wider and longer than the concept because of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque body parts helping disguise it, but a Jaguar most certainly lies underneath. The biggest giveaway is the flat, snub-nosed front end mirroring that of the Jaguar XF sedan. The obtuse, extended windshield and barely discernible front fender badge are evident in profile, as is the raked rear hatch and upright rear end.
When the Jaguar C-X17 crossover concept arrived, Jaguar said it would use a flexible all-aluminum chassis. Given that it was set up to be easily adapted to a range of vehicles, the lightweight chassis will also be used for the Jaguar XE sports sedan that should go on sale in the U.S. by 2016. Based on what we now know about the XE and its modular platform, we can expect the production C-X17 to offer all-wheel-drive as well as both 2.0-liter turbo-four and supercharged V-6 engines.
It’s also safe to anticipate diesel powertrains to be in the mix for the European Jaguar crossover, although these engines are unlikely to be sold in the U.S. sale. Like the Evoque, the Jaguar C-X17 will be meant primarily for on-road, but while off-road capability will not be the crossover’s biggest strength, it’s likely that the Jaguar concept’s Road, Sport, and All-Road driving modes will carry over to production.
European bureau chief Georg Kacher reported that the crossover could be named XQ and could arrive as early as 2015. Jaguar reportedly expects it to sell about 150,000 units per year worldwide.
Stay tuned for more details on the Jaguar C-X17 crossover as more details emerge closer to the official reveal.
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