At the LA Auto Show Jaguar used the occasion to reveal some electrifying news. Following the huge success of the F-Pace, their first SUV, the British motoring icon announced the designs for their first-ever all-electric vehicle: the I-Pace Concept.
Moreover, this is not just another drawing of a car that will never touch the tarmac. A production version is already set to be revealed late this year and it will be on the road by 2018.
As Ian Callum, director of design at Jaguar, says: ‘This isn’t just a concept. The I-Pace Concept is a radical departure for electric vehicles, and as Jaguar’s first-ever battery-powered electric vehicle it opens a new chapter in the history of our legendary brand.’
The I-Pace will be at the forefront of the latest electric technology that designers say has let them ‘tear up the design rule book’. The design imitates the haunched wheel arches that made the E-Type one of the most desirable and recognisable cars on the planet. It has a bold cab-forward design that imitates a supercar silhouette, while innovative new technology allows for the type of versatile performance expected of an SUV.
As a concept car the I-Pace only has a predicted range for now, but Jaguar are hopeful their radical new 90kWh battery design will have a range of more than 500km.
Electric motors on front and rear axels offer great efficiency, with virtually no lag between gear changes and a sub-four-second expected 0-60mph speed. As there is no drivetrain, the I-Pace will have a flat floor. This gives the interior a spacious feel and reduces the size of the vehicle. On the road it will be smaller than most other mid-sized SUVs.
Even though you can’t own an I-Pace Concept yet, by clicking the ‘I Want One’ button on Jaguar’s website you can register to be one of the first owners in 2018.
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