Jaguar Cars have made a bold step into the electric car space with the stunning looking I-Pace. And it has had to do it because its German rivals aren’t just ready with their electric range; they are a little ahead of Jaguar on that curve. But, the Jaguar I-Pace promises more than just a green, clean, electric drive; it promises emotion and connect. Here’s what the I-Pace is all about in pictures.
Jaguar Cars has clubbed the ongoing crossover / SUV fad with technology for the near future with the I-Pace. And it shows in its SUV stance. Jaguar insists that in spite of the crossover styling, the driving dynamics for its electric works will be more like a sportscar than an SUV.
I-Pace gets the signature Jaguar fascia with the large rounded rectangular grille and the feline LED headlamps with daytime running lamps. The mesh grill and sculpted intakes on the bumper add to the visual drama along with the deep hood recess that is seen mostly on hypercars.
The profile gives it a hunkered down stance with a tall shoulder but short, sloping down roofline. The flared fenders, wheel arches and large 23-inch alloys add to the stance while the F-type like tail lamp design makes the unusually cut boot look sportier and very desirable.
The cabin is futuristic in its layout but also has the old-world charm with the wooden paneling on the dashboard and the brushed aluminium finish. The instrument console is a TFT screen and so is the touchscreen infotainment display. It should be easy to read too.
The I-Pace gets a panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable contoured seats and four-zone climate control. The seats are upholstered in leather and soft touch fabrics. This Jaguar will also come with an electric power steering and functions like adaptive cruise control and ESP.
The most interesting part is the construction. The 90KW/h batteries are stacked along the floor-pan with the chassis being a mix of aluminium and reinforced steel to reduce the overall weight. The battery pack is liquid cooled and can be charged to 80 per cent within 90 minutes.
It gets two electric motors, one for each axle with a combined output of almost 400bhp of max power and 700Nm of peak and flat torque. The expected range is over 500km on a full charge and the I-Pace gets regenerative braking to harness the kinetic energy as well.
The I-Pace is expected to go into production by 2018 and Jaguar says the production car will look almost like the concept. It should be an interesting option for the Mercedes EQ Concept production car as well as the current champion – the Tesla Model X.
