Jaguar I-Pace sees red 02 | 03 | 2017
JAGUAR HAS CONFIRMED its new all-electric SUV concept, the I-Pace, will appear at next week’s Geneva Motor Show resplendent in a new re paint job. (Related: New Jaguar flagship for Taggarts)
Its appearance at Europe’s largest motor show will mark the new electric car’s European debut following its debut at last year’s LA Motor Show.
The car is scheduled to go on-sale in Scottish dealerships next year; the production version is not expected to differ much in appearance from the Geneva car. Prices are expected to start around £55,000.
And if you’re really keen, Scottish Jaguar dealers are already taking details from interested customers.
Penned by Jaguar’s Scots head of design, Ian Callum, on an all-new aluminium platform, the I-Pace will have a range of at least 300 miles on a single charge. Expect it to hit 62mph from standstill in around four seconds.
Power comes from a 90kWh lithium ion battery which sits between the axles, driving two rare earth magnetic electric motors for a total power output of 395bhp and 700Nm of torque.
Jaguar boffins have cleverly ensured the two electric motors have been reduced in size as much as possible; each one has an outer diameter of 234mm and a length of 500mm . This has contributed to the creation of additional space in the cabin.
As you would expect, much of the car’s hardware is derived from the F-Pace SUV, and ingenious designing means the lithium-Ion batteries — which have been developed in-house — use pouch cells for their energy density and efficiency.
This contributes to them being able to be charged to 80% capacity in 90 minutes, and 100% in just over two hours from a 50kW DC charging point.
Significantly, the I-Pace has a centre of gravity which is 120mm lower than the F-Pace due to the fact the batteries sit so low in the car.
Marginally smaller — it’s around 50mm shorter, 90mm lower and 40mm narrower — than the F-Pace, it sits on a wheelbase which is 115mm longer. That means there’s more space in the cabin; according to Jaguar, there’s 10mm more kneeroom than a BMW 7 Series.
And though the bootspace is smaller than the F-Pace, the 530-litre boot is supplemented by an additional 28-litres of space under the bonnet.
Inside the cabin there are three large screens: while a 12-inch HD screen displays instruments, another 12-inch touchscreen sits on the floating centre console. These are supplemented by a smaller 5.5-inch touchscreen below. As if that’s not enough, there are additional tiny screens in the rotary controllers which sit further down that centre control module.
Related: Cleland sells Jaguar operation
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Jim McGill