Jaguar have recently revealed that they are making their first all-electric car in the company’s long and illustrious history and that the car would be called the I-Pace. Jaguar have now revealed the concept I-Pace at the LA Motor Show, and it is a five-seater SUV.
The I-Pace concept takes full advantage of the packaging freedom offered by electrification, and Jaguar took this as an opportunity to rethink the vehicle’s proportions. The result is a five-seater SUV with spacious interiors since there is no engine and transmission tunnel to fit in.
Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar said “The opportunities offered by an electric powertrain are huge. Electric vehicles offer designers much greater freedom, and it is an opportunity we must grasp. This is why the I-Pace Concept is developed on a new architecture which has been designed to optimise electric vehicle performance, aerodynamics and interior space. With the I-Pace Concept, the revolution is in the profile, not the design language. The profile is possible because this car is electric. It’s not just that we wanted to create something that was very different from anything else we do: we wanted the design to celebrate the new battery electric technology. I was determined from the very beginning of this project to create a design which reflected this change in the mechanics of the car. This is what led to the sporty cab-forward profile rather than a car with a bonnet and an engine.”
He further added “Our brief was to create a spacious performance SUV that could comfortably carry five people. Otherwise we had a clean sheet of paper. To deliver this, we embraced the freedom that electrification offers designers. The electric powertrain and the cab-forward layout positions the driver further forward, increasing the space for row-two occupants. This also allows the 530-litre luggage compartment volume without compromising the dramatic silhouette.”
With no engine bay and a battery pack that sits flat between the axles, the design’s long wheelbase and short overhangs enable a footprint of 4,680 mm x 1,890 mm and a long wheelbase of 2,990 mm. As a result, the Jaguar I-Pace Concept occupies less road space than a conventional mid-size SUV while offering more rear passenger space than some full-size SUVs and luxury saloons. The I-Pace Concept’s second-row knee room of more than 70 mm assures first class comfort for rear seat passengers.
The Jaguar I-Pace concept has electric motors at the front and rear axles making it an all-wheel drive vehicle which delivers an impressive performance figure of 400 PS and 700 Nm of instant torque. Essentially the same torque output of the F-Type SVR
Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar Land Rover said “Electric motors provide immediate response with no lag, no gearshifts and no interruptions. Their superior torque delivery compared to internal combustion engines transforms the driving experience. With 700 Nm and the traction benefits of all-wheel drive, the I-Pace Concept accelerates from 0-60 mph in around four seconds.”
The Jaguar I-Pace Concept’s range is more than 500 km on the European NEDC combined cycle and more than 355 km on the US EPA cycle. The battery can be charged at public charging stations, a dedicated wall box at home, or simply using conventional domestic power sockets. Charging is reasonably quick, with 80 per cent charge achieved in 90 minutes and 100 per cent in just over two hours using 50kW DC charging. Energy storage in the I-Pace Concept is a liquid-cooled 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Jaguar claim the electric I-Pace SUV will be going into production and will be available at dealerships in 2018, no word on the potential price yet though. The Jaguar I-Pace in its production form is set to rival the recently launched Tesla Model X. We hope to see the Jaguar I-Pace go into production and make its way to India eventually.
Story: Sahej Patheja
