Skip to main content

Jaguar’s updated 2018 XE inaugurates a new way of paying for gas

Jaguar has updated the XE sedan with two new engines, an additional trim level, and more tech features for the 2018 model year.

The XE’s entry-level engine is a brand-new, all-aluminum 2.0-liter four-cylinder that uses a twin-scroll turbocharger to produce 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. An automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive come standard, while all-wheel drive is available at an extra cost.

Recommended Videos

An enthusiast-oriented variant named XE S joins the lineup for 2018. It receives a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 borrowed from the F-Type and is tuned to generate 380 horsepower. Performance specifications haven’t been announced yet, but the S is expected to comfortably out-sprint the other members of the XE lineup.

Also new for the next model year is a limited-edition model dubbed Portfolio. Billed as the most refined XE to date, it comes standard with a long list of equipment including heated rear seats, a hands-free trunk lid, power rear sunshades, a 10-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, as well as an 825-watt surround sound system with 17 speakers.

The list of available tech features now includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that’s fully configurable, Forward Vehicle Guidance, Forward Traffic Detection, emergency braking, and a hands-free trunk lid. Most of the aforementioned features are found on the list of options.

Jaguar has teamed up with Shell to develop an innovative, cashless in-car payment system that makes filling up more convenient. After installing a purpose-designed application on their phone, motorists can select how much fuel they need using their car’s touchscreen, and pay with either Paypal or Apple Pay.

Jaguar XE | World First In-Car Cashless Fuel Payment

As of writing, the in-car payment system is only available in the United Kingdom, but it will be rolled out globally before the end of the year. Android Pay compatibility will also arrive later this year, according to the British auto-maker.

The new entry-level engine lowers the XE’s base price to $35,725 before a mandatory $925 destination charge is factored in. The XE S starts at $52,275, while the Portfolio model is priced at $56,910. The updates will help the XE get a bigger slice of the compact luxury sedan segment, which is currently dominated by the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The F-Pace SUV and the XF sedan benefit from many of the updates detailed above. Notably, base variants of both cars get the 247-horsepower turbo four, and they both gain a limited-edition Portfolio trim that includes a comprehensive list of standard features.

Pricing for the 2018 F-Pace and XF starts at $42,065 and $47,775, respectively. The 2018 Jaguar XE, XF, and F-Pace will arrive in showrooms in the coming months.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more
Gemini AI coming to cars as Android Automotive update suggests it’s due soon
The 6.8-inch Pioneer digital media receiver installed in a vehicle's dashboard.

Google appears to be getting ready to sends its Gemini AI into cars through an Android Automotive update.

This would make sense as Android Automotive already uses Google's Assistant to help with those much-needed in-car hands-free requests.

Read more
Watch from the passenger seat as the new Porsche 911 GT3 sets a record at the Nürburgring
911 GT3 with Weissach Package (Manual Transmission), Nürburgring Nordschleife 2025, Porsche AG

If you've ever wanted to race at top speeds around one of the most iconic racetracks in the world, then now is your chance. A new Porsche 911 GT3 just set a record for the fastest time around the Nürburgring in a road car with a manual transmission, knocking almost 10 seconds off the previous best time. And Porsche has released a video of the run filmed from the cockpit, so you can experience the thrills for yourself.

The record was set by legendary driver and Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel of a 911 GT3 with the Weissach package, setting a time of 6:56.294. That's 9.5 seconds ahead of the previous record set by the Dodge Viper ACR in 2017 -- though there's some math involved in these time calculations as the track was reconfigured in 2019.

Read more