News: Jaguar I-Pace Electric Concept SUV Hits the Streets

New EV Will Arrive In 2018

Jaguar recently gave a closer look at its battery-electric I-Pace concept it plans to debut in 2018 by setting it loose on the streets of London.

Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, the I-Pace is Jaguar’s first all-electric vehicle and second crossover SUV, following the larger, conventionally powered F-Pace.

“Driving the concept on the streets is really important for the design team,” said Jaguar director of design Ian Callum. “It’s very special to put the car outside and in the real world. You can see the true value of the I-Pace’s dramatic silhouette and powerful proportions when you see it on the road, against other cars.”

If the I-Pace production SUV follows the concept, it will have a pair of synchronous permanent magnet electric motors, one integrated into each axle. That will provide four-wheel drive directed by a single-speed epicyclic transmission.

Each motor produces 200 horsepower with a combined 516 pounds-feet of torque that Jaguar estimates can rip off a zero to 60 mph time in just four seconds for those in a hurry.

Power is stored in a liquid cooled 90-kilowatt-hour lithium battery that the automaker expects will have an EPA real world driving range of around 220 miles.

A 50-kilowatt direct current (DC) charging point can replenish the battery to 80 percent in 90 minutes and to 100 percent in just over two hours.

Design Follows LA Auto Show Concept

The London I-Pace SUV is very close in appearance to the concept shown in LA. While it has a passing resemblance to the larger F-Pace, the exterior styling is a dramatic departure from previous Jaguars, giving a hint at what to expect in the future.

It has a compact body and is fairly low to the ground for an SUV, but it still seats five while offering plenty of cargo space.

A cab forward design with short rear overhangs and short hood combine to maximize interior space for occupants, improve visibility and enhance driving dynamics, according to Jaguar.

Sweeping lines along the sides and a tapering waistline give the five-door SUV a coupe-like profile, leading to a sharply angled rear hatch window with a hydrophobic coating–so there’s no need for a rear wiper.

Tail lights feature a “chicane line” signature, a new Jaguar design element that replaces the more traditional E-Type round design.

Inside Luxury

Inside, materials are a mixture of Windsor leather, Alcantara, unvarnished walnut and carbon fiber. The roof is a full-length glass panel with embedded LEDs that illuminate the interior at night.

The I-Pace introduces a new cockpit design direction based around three display screens. A 12-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard with a five-inch screen below it for infotainment and climate controls. Instruments are presented to the driver on a configurable 12-inch virtual cluster augmented by a color head-up display.

Gears are selected by buttons that are integrated into a floating center console that emphasizes the SUV’s flat floor and lack of transmission tunnel.

The I-Pace will take on Tesla’s Model X, the Audi e-tron and a production version of the Mercedes Generation EQ concept shown at the Paris Motor Show last September.

From what’s known about the car so far, it appears that the Jaguar I-Pace has the potential to be a real contender in the luxury electric car space when it arrives in 2018.

Related Stories You Might Enjoy

First Drive: 2017 Tesla Model X P100D

News: Audi Previews Q8 Crossover-Coupe

Test Drive: Mercedes-Benz GLK350 With Start-Stop

First Drive: 2017 Cadillac XT5 AWD