Jaguar will need to fit a pretty powerful engine in the larger SUV simply because of the added weight even if they don't plan to challenge Porsche. I can understand why they're doing it because there's a hole in their lineup and the J-Pace should plug it, but Jaguar will need to nail the model or have an expensive failure on their hands.
E-Pace’s Potential Sibling, The J-Pace
Jaguar recently filed a global trademark for the J-Pace nameplate and the new full-size SUV is expected to hit the market in 2021 as a larger sibling to the E-Pace and F-Pace.
According to Autocar, the J-Pace is being engineered as a Porsche Cayenne rival and it's expected to borrow much of its components from Land Rover's Range Rover in an effort to keep costs down.
This could be great news for those interested in purchasing one as the new Range Rover Sport is offered with a monstrous 5.0L supercharged V8 gas engine. If Jaguar just transfers the engine from one model to another without de-tuning the engine, the J-Pace's powertrain could deliver at least 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque.
That's more than enough to face off against the Porsche Cayenne S as it can only produce 434 hp unless you tread into Turbo territory, at which point the Porsche vehicle will start at an eye watering $124,600.
Of course, there's also the 3.0 L supercharged V6 gas unit that's offered with the normal Range Rover variant. At 340 hp and 332 lb-ft or torque, this engine is more suited to compete against the standard Cayenne.
Until Jaguar themselves reveal the J-Pace, we can only speculate on the new model's powertrain offerings. Maybe there's even a hybrid option in the works.
