Jaguar to release J-Pace flagship SUV in 2021?

The J-Pace will share its platform with the next Range Rover.

The next generation of Land Rover's Range Rover will lend its platform to a Jaguar-badged crossover positioned above the F-Pace, according to a recent report. Tentatively called J-Pace, the model will be offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain when it goes on sale in the early 2020s.

The J-Pace will be one of the first cars in the Jaguar - Land Rover portfolio built on the modular MLA platform that's currently under development, according to British magazine Autocar. The architecture will ultimately underpin every member of both companies' line-up. It will be made entirely out of aluminum in order to keep weight in check, and it's being designed with electrification in mind.

At launch, every J-Pace will come with a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain built around a turbocharged straight-six engine. The six will spin the front wheels, and an electric motor will zap the rear wheels into motion. This setup will give the crossover through-the-road all-wheel drive, while allowing designs to carve out a spacious cabin by flattening the transmission tunnel. Expect an electric-only range of up to 50 miles in ideal conditions.

The J-Pace won't be as tall as the Range Rover; Autocar described it as a mid-height model. It will be more of a road-focused family-hauler in the vein of the E-Pace than a true off-roader. Its exterior design will borrow styling cues from the I-Pace, while its cabin will receive state-of-the-art technology like OLED displays.

Jaguar will position the J-Pace near the top of its line-up when it releases the model in 2021. It will be marketed as a more spacious alternative to the XJ sedan. The company hasn't commented on the report, but we've heard rumors of a bigger Jaguar soft-roader since the F-Pace made its debut.

Photo by Ronan Glon.