Alfardan Premier Motors general manager Rabih Ataya (left) and Jaguar Land Rover Menap brand director Chris Wilde unveil the Jaguar XE at the Qatar Motor Show. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed.
By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter
Qatar is expected to be a “strong market” for the upcoming Jaguar XE and the Range Rover Sport SVR, brand director Chris Wilde told Gulf Times at the Qatar Motor Show on Thursday.
“Qatar is a very strong market for us and our products really appeal to the Qatari people making it a key market,” said Wilde, who is in charge of Jaguar Land Rover Menap region.
This was echoed by Alfardan Premier Motors general manager Rabih Ataya, who stressed that “demand for both vehicles is high,” particularly the Range Rover Sport SVR.
“The vehicle will be available in June but this early, we already have several bookings from customers. Our market share in Qatar is quite high as Range Rover is a premium brand and is very well-established across the whole region and in Qatar,” Ataya said.
Wilde added, “Public reception has been quite positive and this tells me that for those who have seen the car were very excited and keen to witness something fresh in this segment.”
He said the Jaguar XE, which made its Middle East debut in Qatar on Thursday, will be available in the market this March through its exclusive distributor in Qatar, Alfardan Premier Motors.
Wilde said the XE redefines the concept of the sports saloon and is the only vehicle in its class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque enabling exceptional vehicle dynamics, perfect proportions, and a streamlined profile.With the new Ingenium diesel engines, the XE can achieve 75mpg and 99g/km CO2 making it “the most efficient Jaguar ever.”
Powered by the supercharged 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine from the Jaguar F-TYPE, the XE S is capable of 0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds (0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds).
The XE is also the first Jaguar to be equipped with electric power steering, tuned to provide “exceptional responsiveness and feel” but with lower energy consumption than hydraulic systems. The XE also boasts the lowest cost of ownership and most environmentally-sustainable credentials of all Jaguar models.
Billed as the “fastest, most powerful” Land Rover ever produced, the Range Rover Sport SVR is the very first Jaguar Land Rover vehicle to wear the SVR designation being adopted by future high-performance models.
Accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, the Range Rover Sport SVR has a top speed electronically limited to 260km/h and has recently set a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 8 minutes 14 seconds – one of the fastest times recorded by a production SUV underlining its performance credentials.
“Jaguar Land Rover has created some of the industry’s class-leading vehicles over the years and as their exclusive importer in Qatar, we are proud to be able to witness both brands continue to grow and develop in the region. We have no doubt both the Jaguar XE and Range Rover Sport SVR will be very well received in Qatar and across the region,” Ataya said.