What's the news?
Ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar I-Pace has had its full public unveiling - and now we know more about the exact specifications of this all-electric SUV.
Exterior
Long of wheelbase, short of overhang and with a coupe-like profile that was inspired by the C-X75 plug-in hybrid supercar study, the Jaguar I-Pace looks at once both familiar as a Big Cat SUV and yet different. The design specifically aims to maximise the benefits of the car's electric drivetrain, both in terms of interior space and aerodynamics. The aero-enhanced roof, curved rear screen and squared-off, almost Kamm-tail back of the I-Pace means it has a drag coefficient of just 0.29, impressive for an SUV. Up front, the grille features Active Vanes, which open when cooling is required but which close when not required, to redirect air through the integral bonnet scoop to smooth airflow.
Beneath the skin, the electric vehicle (EV) aluminium architecture uses advanced riveting and bonding technology to deliver Jaguar's stiffest body structure - the torsional rigidity of the I-Pace is 36,000Nm per degree, with part of that down to the structural battery pack. This is mounted centrally between the two axles and as low as possible, with a seal between the housing and the underfloor. Jaguar claims perfect 50:50 weight distribution as a result.
Interior
While the I-Pace is a mid-sized, five-seat SUV, Jaguar says it has as much space onboard as a large SUV. Rear legroom measures 890mm, while the lack of a transmission tunnel means there's a 10.5-litre central storage compartment in the front. Tablet and laptop stowage can be found underneath the rear seats, while the boot is 656 litres with all seats in place and 1,453 litres with the back row folded flat. Optional interior finishes include a premium textile upholstery from Danish firm Kvadrat.
As it's a thoroughly up-to-date EV, naturally the I-Pace is a fully connected car. It has the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system and a new navigation set-up that works out the topography of the route, as well as driving style on previous journeys, to calculate a 'personalised' range for the driver and the battery charge status to a degree of exceptional accuracy. The Jaguar also uses Smart Settings driven by AI algorithms to tailor driving and interior settings according to its users, while it will also launch an Amazon Alexa Skill, allowing owners to ask an Alexa-enabled device for information held in the Jaguar InControl Remote app. Finally, the I-Pace will be the first Jaguar to provide software updates over-the-air, meaning the SUV will always be at the cutting edge for infotainment, telematics and battery energy control programmes.
Mechanicals
A pair of Jaguar-designed electric motors, with driveshafts passing through the motors themselves for compactness, are fitted on each axle. Together, they provide four-wheel drive and outputs of 400hp, as well as 696Nm. That's enough for a 0-100km/h time of around 4.5 seconds, with the whole kit and caboodle powered by a 90kWh lithium-ion battery with 432 pouch cells.
This allows the I-Pace to go up to 480km on a single charge and if owners can replenish the battery on a DC 50kW charger, then the battery will be back to 80 per cent power within 85 minutes. Jaguar says the I-Pace will be fully compatible with 100kW DC rapid chargers as and when they come online, meaning the charging time for 80 per cent will be cut to 40 minutes. Home charging on a 7kW AC wallbox takes ten hours, meaning owners can leaving the car hooked up overnight to return to it the next morning with full range.
And Jaguar firmly says the I-Pace is a true Jaguar, with its double-wishbone front suspension and integral link rear axle aiming to deliver 'agile handling and outstanding ride comfort'. To help with the latter, optional air suspension is offered on the EV SUV.
Anything else?
Ian Hoban, the vehicle line director for the Jaguar I-Pace, said: "We set out with a clean-sheet approach to harness new battery electric technology with an architecture engineered from the outset to optimise performance, aerodynamics and interior space. The result is the I-Pace - a true Jaguar and truly driver-focused EV. For I-Pace customers, fuel stations are a thing of the past: after overnight charging, they'll wake up every morning with a 'full tank of fuel'!"