Jaguar will finally enter the electric vehicle market in 2018 with the I-Pace – an all-new fully-electric SUV.
What you see in these pictures isn’t it though – it’s merely a concept for now; the final production car will be revealed at some point in 2017 before hitting UK showrooms the year after.
The I-Pace concept car combines supercar looks with sports car performance, all wrapped up in a neat SUV-sized package. It has been developed on a new architecture, designed to optimise electric vehicle performance, aerodynamics and interior space.
Stretching for 4,680mm by 1,890mm, the I-Pace is marginally shorter and narrower than the F-Pace – Jaguar’s first ever SUV introduced mid-2016 – but its 2,990mm wheelbase is 10cm longer which should improve its ride quality.
“One of the most visually-arresting concepts”
With styling inspired by the C-X75 mid-engine supercar, Jaguar reckons it is “one of the most visually-arresting concepts” to come from the brand, but whatever you think of its looks, there’s little disputing its ability to shift.
State-of-the-art electric motors on the front and rear axles produce the equivalent of 394bhp and up to 700Nm of torque.
This means that the car can whizz to 60mph in around four seconds, about the same as a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe.
Luxury
As with any Jaguar, you’d expect premium materials and a luxury finish and that’s the case here.
Jaguar’s signature lozenge motif is laser-cut into the Windsor leather covering the front of the seats, sewn with contrasting twin-needle stitching and edged with coloured carbon fibre trim. The seat backs are finished in Moonstone Alcantara.
The doors echo this feel with tonal layering of aluminium, Alcantara and dark unvarnished walnut veneers.
Range
Critics of electric vehicles usually focus on the limited range, however the I-Pace shouldn’t have much issue with range anxiety.
It can cover up to 310 miles on a single charge, while its high-capacity 90kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged to 80 per cent in 90 minutes using a 50kW DC output.
The F-Pace became Jaguar’s fastest-selling model ever upon its introduction, with more than 3,000 models sold in May, when it made up almost a third of the brand’s 10,633 global monthly sales.
Meanwhile, the plug-in vehicle market is impossible to ignore and it was only a matter of time before Jaguar joined in. So by combining two of the most in-demand vehicle characteristics, Jaguar is surely onto a winner with the I-Pace.
But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MotorVision_.
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