Currently reading: Jaguar XEL revealed at Guangzhou motor show
Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s latest model offers more rear cabin space for Chinese executives who prefer to be chauffeured

Jaguar has revealed a new long-wheelbase version of its Jaguar XE saloon, the XEL, into the Chinese market.

Making its debut at the Guangzhou motor show today, the model targets the desire for Chinese buyers to buy as big a car as they can afford in any given segment with the most rear legroom, given how space is seen as a premium feature in the market.

Guangzhou motor show 2017 report

A rival to the long wheelbase Mercedes Benz C Class, the new XEL has already gone into production in China. 

Chery Jaguar Land Rover, the partnership that produces JLR products for China, builds the model, which has a wheelbase 100mm longer than the regular XE.

Image uploaded from ios 15 4

That extends the wheelbase to 2935mm, and the XEL provides rear passengers with additional features including an optional massage function, four-way lumbar adjustment and window blinds.

Other models built by JLR in China include the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque and the Jaguar XF L.

The XE L is offered with JLR’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium turbocharged petrol engine in either 197bhp or 247bhp form.

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As with the XF L, the long-wheelbase version of the XF produced for China, there are no plans to bring the XE L to Europe. China’s demand for saloons offering larger rear legroom is driven by the popularity for chauffeurs there and such is the scale of the market that Jaguar offers a third long wheelbase variant, the XJ L.

Another major brand producing long wheelbase variants in China is Volvo. The Swedish brand launched the Volvo S90 Excellence last year with additional technical features and a rear passenger section that's unique to the model.

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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WallMeerkat 17 November 2017

Actually looks better than

Actually looks better than the new XF which has a fussy third window, looks more like the clean sheet design of the original XF.

Mikey C 17 November 2017

It seems a very expensive

It seems a very expensive development for just an extra 10cm of length. New pressings for the roof and rear doors can't be cheap.

 

artill 17 November 2017

i thought a long wheel base

i thought a long wheel base XE was an XF? did they need this as well?

V12smig 17 November 2017

agreed.. why dont they just

agreed.. why dont they just add a 100mm across the range and finally release themselves from the historical shackles of being considered cossy hence cramped!