Tesla and the Nissan Leaf—these are the two names that usual come to mind when talking about the electric car. Fair enough since these two are the few that have made it to production and are actually doing relatively well. Of course, there are others that want to follow, such as the Porsche Mission E and now, the Jaguar I-PACE.
From the outside, the Jaguar I-PACE is pretty much a crossover in form. But look closely and you’ll see a lot of Jaguar-ness in the styling—specifically how the lines flow gracefully, even for what is essentially a compact SUV. But apparently, the svelte styling is only a precursor to what lies underneath—the future of Jaguar and the future of motoring.
Instead of a traditional internal combustion engine, the Jaguar I-PACE uses two electric motors, one at the front and another at the rear axle. Together with a lithium-ion battery, they give out a healthy 400hp and a rousing 700Nm of torque, driving all four wheels. Thanks to the inert characteristics of electric motors, namely instantaneous torque, the electric Jag can accelerate from rest to the century mark in a sports car-like 4 seconds.
If you think this is amazing, wait til you check out the range. Jaguar promises that this battery-driven vehicle will do around 500kms on a single 50kw charge. Imagine charging it for just two hours and driving around worry-free for almost a week. Awesome, right?
Apart from the stunning performance and extended range, the tech under the metal pays dividends in the cabin—literally. Space is of the essence since there is no motor to speak of. Add to this the cab-forward layout and you’ve got one spacious crossover. Naturally, the most opulent Jaguar design and top-notch materials are present here. It is luxury at tis finest.
This being a Jaguar, the motorsport genes are truly present as well. The ride promises to be supple yet handling is still sharp as a knife. And it’s all guilt-free.
The Jaguar I-PACE will hit the production floor in 2018.
