It's been less than a month since Jaguar->ke39 teased the upcoming F-Pace at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, and the performance crossover->ke288 is already being put through its paces in the cold, snow season. Sure, this isn't the first time the British automaker was caught testing its first-ever family hauler, but the vehicle photographed while stretching its legs in the Scandinavian snow is no longer of the mule variety. For the first time since it announced that the C-X17 Concept would see an assembly line, Jaguar is actually testing a production-ready body.

Described as "a perfectly judged balance of style, performance and practicality," the crossover, or the "family sports car," as Jaguar likes to call it, will be launched as part of the brand's 80th anniversary in 2015, with sales to commence in early 2016. Built on the same aluminum, modular platform as the XE->ke3138 sedan, Jag's first-ever CUV comes to challenge the likes of the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Audi Q5, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.

Click past the jump to find out more about the Jaguar F-Pace.

2016 Jaguar F-Pace - spy shots

While the Detroit teaser photo provides very little indication as to what the production F-Pace might look like, it is expected to closely resemble the C-X17 Concept's exterior. And although the prototype spotted in Sweden is camouflaged to the teeth, it's obvious that the car we'll get in showrooms in 2016 and the study that preceded it share many styling features. The headlamps are similar in shape and size, although they seem to be slightly larger, while the bumper looks as if it received the same massive intakes seen on the concept. The overall shape also seems to be about right. However, the camouflage could hide plastic body inserts on the sides, as well as a lowered waistline and less-muscular rear haunches.

Unfortunately, our paparazzi weren't able to take a peek inside, but if the exterior is any indication to the concept-to-production ratio, I'd say the F-Pace's cabin will also mirror the C-X17's, minus the futuristic instrument panel. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of features transferred from the XE sedan, which would be a good thing considering the BMW 3 Series fighter is classy, sporty and luxurious at the same time.

Since the engine bay is yet another compartment we can't have a peek at, I can only speculate on what drivetrains the F-Pace might get. Much like the XE, the base models will employ Jaguar's brand-new, four-cylinder Ingenium engines, with the quicker one to receive the supercharged V-6. The supercharged V-8 motivating the range-topping version of the F-Type->ke1224 sports car will will turn the F-Pace into a crossover quick enough to give the Porsche Macan and the Audi RS Q5 a run for their money.

Why it matters

Granted, these spy shots aren't very revealing, leaving us with more speculation than fact when it comes to the F-Pace. What matters here, though, is that the Jaguar-badged crossover is finally being tested in pre-production form, meaning it won't be long until it makes its global debut.