The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace has become official, hitting the streets with ‘electrified’ beauty, stance and pace.
The I-Pace is a a smaller SUV set to introduce an all-electric model for the Jaguar brand. The design mixes E-Pace design with that of the C-X75 supercar, an execution not typically SUV. The front gets a low bonnet, flanked by curving wheel arches whilst the hexagonal grille retains key Jaguar design DNA. Slim-line full LED headlights get Jaguars Double-J daytime running light motif. The bonnet scoop helps reduce drag with aerodynamic efficiency benefits. The side gets a streamlined profile, sweeping lines, large wheels, muscular rear haunches whilst the long wheelbase and short overhangs enable a coupe-like roofline. The rear gets a slender composite spoiler, fast-angled-slope rear window, LED tail lamps with rear vents slotting in where the exhausts would have been.
The 5-seater I-Pace uses leather, wood, Alcabtara neatly fused with trendy interior layout designs. The 5.5-inch digital instrument cluster and the 12-inch HD infotainment touchscreen positioned low with simple horizontal lines of the floating centre console help further emphasize the interior’s trendy functions. The cab-forward design and electric motors allow for a spacious cabin whilst a 656-litre luggage compartment makes it an everyday usable electric SUV. Additional laptop and tablet stowage compartments are found beneath the rear seats.
If you thought it would an electric “dud”on the road, try this for size. 294kW/696Nm of instant power comes from electric motors at the front and rear axles, ensuring the I-Pace sprints from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds, remember all this performance with zero emissions. Allied to an all-wheel-drive, F-Pace derived suspension system; the I-Pace should be a cracker in the twisties. The electric range is claimed to be 500km between recharge and only 45-minutes using DC rapid charging (100kW fast-charger) to get to 80% charge. Home charging with an AC wall box (7kW) will achieve the same state of charge in over 10 hours – ideal for overnight charging.
The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE is not yet confirmed for Mzansi due to the lack of charging infrastructure (thanks to our government charging emissions tax but not doing anything towards zero emissions support). Maybe now the money that would have gone to Dubai will now cater for the infrastructure.