Jaguar testing F-PACE sport utility in extreme climates

Jaguar's first-ever sport utility is being put through its PACES—pun intended—as the British brand continues a testing program that spans from northern Sweden to Dubai.

The all-new F-PACE, set to hit showrooms in 2016, is being tested to its limits in conditions as cold as -40°C in Sweden and as hot as 50°C in Dubai as the so-called "performance crossover" gets closer to launch.

"We developed the F-PACE to offer the ride, handling and refinement demanded from a Jaguar, together with exceptional levels of ability and composure on all surfaces and in all weathers," F-PACE program director Andrew Whyman said in a statement.

"Just as we paid obsessive attention to detail over the engineering of every single component, we’ve exhaustively tested the F-PACE in the most challenging conditions to ensure that it will exceed the expectations of our customers around the world."

Testing in Sweden is taking place at Jaguar Land Rover's facility in Arjeplog, where it claims average winter temperatures rarely exceed -15°C.

The facility there is made up of 60 kilometres of track, mountain climbs, split-friction straights and off-road areas, ideally suited for calibrating the all-wheel drive system set to underpin the F-PACE.

In Dubai, temperatures can exceed 50°C, with cabin temperatures reaching 70°C—which Jaguar said is "exactly what’s needed" to test the SUV's climate control and infotainment systems.

The F-PACE is reportedly powered by a 3.0-litre V6, though Jaguar has yet to confirm or deny this.

It's set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.