 "Rohit Suri")
On Friday, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) takes the covers off the first cross-over under the Jaguar brand, in India. The British brand, owned by Tata Motors, will launch the Jaguar F-Pace at an event in Mumbai. Rohit Suri, president, Jaguar Land Rover-India, spoke to Swaraj Baggonkar about the launch. Edited excerpts:
Why is launch of the Jaguar F-Pace so important to JLR in India?
So far Jaguar never had an sports utility vehicle. It has always been known for sedans. But, the brand has been so strong and a lot of customers are SUV buyers. So, the company decided to enter this space. Launch of the F-Pace will be a historic moment for Jaguar.
How is it priced?
The starting price is Rs 68.4 lakh for the Pure variant. It goes up to Rs 74.5 lakh for the Prestige variant, Rs 1.02 crore for the R Sport variant and Rs 1.12 crore for the First Edition. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
Will the car be locally made or imported?
Currently, it is completely imported, but we will look at a local manufacturing operation. We will announce it when we decide to start it.
What are the powertrain options you are offering on the F-Pace?
We have four derivatives, based on two primary diesel engines. One is a two-litre while the other is a three-litre. Each will have two variants. We also have a petrol option outside India, which we shall bring to the country later.
What initial volumes are expected?
We started with bookings two weeks ago and got a very good response. I cannot share the figures.
What features will become a big draw ?
There is the interior mood lighting to suit the choice of its occupants. As for practicality, it has a lot of innovative features such as the park assist. This will help park the car without driver intervention. Then, there is a fit bit band, an activity key that acts like a second key to the car. There is a new-age infotainment system, with a 10.2 inch screen, a 10GB useable memory and a 17-speaker sound system.
How is it positioned compared to rivals?
The F-Pace is a crossover so it does not have a direct rival in India. Porsche Macan and the BMW X5 might be two rivals.
