New Jaguar XE will return up to 75mpg – lightweight aluminium accounts for 75% of structure

The new Jaguar XE’s roll-out ahead of its debut on 8 September continues with details of the XE’s aluminium construction and 75mpg capability.

The Jaguar XE will debut officially on 8 September, and Jaguar are busy rolling out details of what the XE will offer to keep interest and expectations high. Today’s instalment in the ‘What will the XE offer? ‘ series of technology teases focuses on the XE’s light weight and frugality.

Based on Jaguar’s iQ Al aluminium underpinnings, the XE will also make extensive use of aluminium throughout the body too, with Jaguar developing a new high-strength aluminium alloy – which they’ve catchily named RC5754 – that contains a high proportion of recycled aluminium.

Using the new RC5754 – which dramatically reduces energy consumption and ‘lifetime’ Co2 – together with the same stiff bonded and riveted aluminium structure used on the F-Type, XJ and XK, the new Jaguar XE will offer a rigid body with great dynamics, a supple ride and precise handling.

But the rigid, lightweight structure doesn’t just make for great dynamics, it also means impressive frugality too.

Jaguar say they expect the new XE will deliver headline economy of 75mpg (and emissions of under 100g/km) from the 2.0 litre Ingenium engine when it launches (albeit in the most frugal versions).

Mark White, Jaguar’s Vehicle Structures man, said:

The Jaguar XE body uses over 75% aluminium content, which far exceeds any other car in its class.

This gives us a body structure with unrivalled low weight: it’s light but also immensely strong with extremely high levels of torsional stiffness. We’ve made sure our aluminium-intensive body structure exceeds all global safety standards without compromising on vehicle design or refinement.

We’re due a couple more technical briefings on the new Jaguar XE before it debuts on 8 September, so by the time the new XE does arrive there’ll be precious little you don’t know about it.