Jaguar has pulled the covers off the hotly anticipated I-Pace – its first all-electric vehicle that it hopes will take the premium zero-emission fight to American giant Tesla.
The all-new crossover doesn’t use any of the firm’s existing car platforms – instead, it’s been made as an electric vehicle from the ground up. That means the aluminium structure has been built specifically for the twin electric motors and battery pack, improving weight distribution to improve handling.
This also means it can be roomier inside. Jaguar claims that cabin space is more comparable to a large SUV than the I-Pace’s crossover rivals – with the batteries in the floor and no large internal combustion engine up front, there’s more space for people and luggage.
Those motors produce a combined 395bhp and 696Nm of torque, propelling the car from zero to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds. Jaguar says the 90kWh lithium-ion battery offers a 298-mile range, while the sat nav system is designed to pick routes that will minimise battery use.
Rapid charging is also available, taking about 85 minutes to get to 80 per cent from empty using a 50kW DC charger. In addition, the I-Pace is compatible with 100kW chargers, which are being rolled out gradually across the public network and could chop the charge time in half.
To give the best range, Jaguar uses a battery pre-conditioning system, which can raise or lower the temperature of the battery. The British car maker says it’s also working on ways to prolong the battery life, with new recycling partnerships in the works.
The body has been designed with sports cars in mind to reflect the impressive performance on offer. The coupe-like silhouette is said to have been inspired by the firm’s C-X75 supercar concept, which was built for the James Bond movie Spectre. It features ‘active vanes’ in the grille that open when cooling is needed and close at all other times to redirect air through the bonnet scoop to minimise drag.
The new Jaguar I-Pace is available to order now, costing from £63,495.