Jaguar hopes customers will go loopy for its all-terrain F-Pace

TO GLEAN publicity for its F-Pace during a Frankfurt motor show week crowded with launches, Jaguar on Monday performed a world record loop-deloop stunt to introduce its long-anticipated new SUV.

The gravity-defying feat earned a place in Guinness World Records for the largest such stunt yet performed, and British driver Terry Grant withstood extreme forces of 6.5G while driving through the giant 19.08 metre tall loop.

Jaguar’s new aluminium-bodied SUV, or family sports car as the manufacturer prefers to call it, is making its world premiere at this week’s Frankfurt show ahead of its local sales debut in mid 2016.

The Tata-owned British carmaker describes the F-Pace, Jaguar’s first foray into the SUV league, as the world’s most practical sports car. Together with Torque Vectoring as standard, the F-Pace is optionally available with adaptive dampers and a Configurable Dynamics system that varies the behaviour of the steering, throttle and auto transmission.

A rear-biased torque- on- demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system transfers drive to the front wheels when extra traction’s needed. Adaptive Surface Response (ASR), a development of cousin Land Rover’s Terrain Response technology, optimises the mapping of the powertrain and stability control to suit surface conditions including deep snow and gravel. For hardcore offroading at crawling speeds a system called All Surface Progress Control (ASPC) automatically controls the throttle and the brakes, enabling the vehicle to pull away smoothly; the driver just has to steer.

The F-Pace also debuts Jaguar’s Activity Key: a waterproof, shockproof wristband with an integrated transponder that allows the keyfob to be locked inside the vehicle while the owner’s out surfing or white-water rafting.

A laser head-up display and a hightech infotainment system form part of the long spec list.

Engine choices include a 3-litre supercharged V6 with outputs of 280kW and 450Nm, along with two turbodiesels: a 221kW/700Nm 3-litre and 132kW/430Nm 2litre.

You can go to http://goo.gl/sHA5B Q to see a video of the record-breaking loopde-loop feat.