10 Things You Need To Know About The New Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar’s new electric SUV looks to bring the brand’s sporty styling and performance-handling to the EV market. By innovating on existing technologies in the emerging electric vehicle industry, the new Jaguar I-Pace is sure to be a contender for the title of the coolest cat on the road. Rebuilt from the ground up, the I-Pace takes full advantage its luxury-sport heritage combined with the cutting-edge technology in the electric vehicle industry.
Jaguar Performance, Electric Power
Designed from scratch, the I-Pace was built to take full advantage of its nature as an electric vehicle. According to Jaguar, the I-Pace can launch you from 0-60mph in around four seconds. With 516lb-ft of instant torque from the electric motors, and nearly 400hp behind it, the I-Pace will get you where you need to be, quickly. Driven by two electric motors, one attached to each axle, the I-Pace aims to deliver a thrilling, high-performance drive.
Cat-Like Reflexes
Instant torque from the dual electric motors means this electric sport-roadster will go from zero to sixty in about four seconds. A genuine Jaguar SUV, the I-Pace unleashes its power in a range of driving environments too. With all-wheel-drive stability, combined with the expected sports car agility of a Jaguar, the I-Pace looks to inspire a confident drive in all conditions. By lowering the center of gravity by nearly five inches from the I-Pace’s gas-powered predecessor, the F-Pace, this Jaguar is as stable as it is sleek.
Sleek, Inside And Out
The I-Pace has been designed so the technology at your fingertips is never intrusive and always intuitive. The I-Pace’s airy and open interior features a floating console and several touch-screen displays to keep the driver informed and in control at all times. A twelve-inch screen on the dash provides navigation information and access to infotainment. The steering wheel features all the standard hands-free controls, as well as push-button start and stop. On the center console, there are individual climate controls for the driver and passenger, as well as touch-screen controls for the heated seats. The I-Pace features a full-color Heads-Up Display that projects critical information, such as the speedometer, directly onto the vehicle’s windshield. Vehicle information, such as range and battery charge, is nestled behind the steering wheel.
It Covers A Large Territory
The I-Pace’s expected range projections currently range from two hundred and fifty miles to just over three hundred – more than enough to get to work and back. Jaguar is anticipating its customers to have a charge wall at home where the vehicle can fully charge overnight. Quick charge systems should be able to charge the I-Pace to about eighty percent in about half an hour and fully charged in under three hours. With the growing technology in the electric vehicle market, Jaguar is anticipating a strong showing against competitors like the Tesla Model X.
One Cool Cat
By placing the batteries in the floor of the vehicle and using two 200hp electric motors, the team at Jaguar was able to implement new heating and cooling technologies. By including a heat scavenger in the front of the vehicle that is used to warm the batteries, the I-Pace should stay energized and ready to drive even in sub-zero temperatures. The floor mounted, 90 kWh battery pack will also be liquid cooled, allowing the batteries to maintain performance, even when they heat up under heavy use or on the warmest days of the year. Jaguar expects the batteries to be able to work harder for longer while staying cooler than the industry standard.
Bigger, But Smaller
The luxurious and sporty cabin is both elegant and spacious. Featuring plenty of legroom for five, the interior is both flashy and classy. Jaguar has maximized their cabin room by taking advantage of the space a traditional engine would occupy. By moving the cabin forward and utilizing the engine compartment, occupants can enjoy far more legroom and storage space. The panoramic sunroof that stretches nearly the length of the vehicle lets in plenty of light and the long sweeping windscreen provides an unobstructed view of the road. While the I-Pace has a smaller footprint than its gas-powered predecessor, the F-Pace, it boasts a larger cabin space.
It’s The Little Things That Count
Being able to spread the batteries and motors out along the length of the vehicle, instead of jamming it all under the hood, means this electric SUV saves more room for a more spacious interior. The floating console gives the impression of uncluttered artistry, while the touch displays are sleek and modern. Wooden accents and a fully upholstered interior add a sense of refinement that melds contemporary design with classical tastes. The leather steering wheel and seats all feature cricket-ball stitching for an added touch of English sensibility.
A Little More Ziggy Than Zag
The concept of the I-Pace came in part from the 1975 film The Man Who Fell to Earth, starring David Bowie. Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Design Director, wanted to call the I-Pace “the car that fell to Earth.” With its massive sunroof – useful for looking at the stars – and space-age design, it is not hard to believe that the I-Pace would feel just as at home hauling Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars from gig to gig, as it would betaking the kids to soccer practice.
This Cat Has A Long Stride
Since the I-Pace features dual electric motors at each end instead of a single large combustion engine, the engineers at Jaguar were able to move the wheels closer to the outside corners, creating more room for the cabin. Though the I-Pace’s overall length comes in shorter than its predecessor, the F-Pace, its wheelbase is 115mm longer. This longer wheelbase provides a more stable and comfortable driving experience and allowed Jaguar to maximize the cabin space for a roomier ride.
Available Late 2018
Jaguar has announced that the I-Pace should be available for purchase in late 2018. The projected MSRP is slated to be ten to fifteen percent higher than the F-Pace, which sets the base price for the I-Pace under $100,000. Compared to other luxury SUVs, such as Porsche Cayenne, which has a base model price of $65,700, the Jaguar I-Pace is gearing up to be one of the best values of 2018.