Jaguar Reveals Its First Fully Electric Production Vehicle, the I-PACE SUV

Jaguar revealed today its first all-electric production vehicle with the all-new I-PACE SUV which Jaguar says will “deliver sports car performance, artificial intelligence enabled technologies and five-seat SUV practicality. The I-PACE was designed and engineered in the UK and will be built in Graz, Austria. To start, let’s talk about that electrified powertrain. A 432 pouch cell, 90 kWh, lithium-ion battery pack will allow the I-PACE to deliver an estimated range of 386 km on a single charge with a 0-80 percent battery charge taking just 40 minutes using publicly available 100kW DC rapid charging facilities. The I-PACE will also feature a suite of smart range-optimizing technologies including a battery pre-conditioning system which will allow the vehicle to warm or cool its battery and cabin to an ideal temperature while plugged in to power. Allowing the vehicle to do this while still connected to a power source the system will reduce the need for the vehicle to tap into its driving range to reach optimal temperature. The SUV will use two Jaguar-designed concentric electric motors that will be placed at each axle which produces exceptional performance and all-wheel drive, multi-surface traction. The high torque density along with the high-energy efficiency of the motors will deliver the aforementioned sports car performance, launching the I-PACE from 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The battery will be placed centrally between the two axles and as low as possible with a seal between its housing and the underfloor of the SUV. This provides a perfect 50:50 weight distribution which provides a low centre of gravity which works with Integral Link rear suspension with Active Air Suspension which all work together to provide outstanding ride comfort. In terms of design, the I-PACE features a coupe-like design with a short, low hood, aerodynamic roof and curved rear window. The design helps reduce coefficient drag which provides increased performance and efficiency while Active Vanes in the grille open when cooling is required and close when not needed. Inside of the new SUV boasts a spacious cabin with great rear legroom and a large central storage compartment in a space that would normally be occupied by the transmission tunnel. Laptop and tablet storage can be found beneath the seats with the rear luggage compartment also offering a generous space. As with just about every new vehicle these days, the I-PACE will of course feature a full suite of safety and technology features to allow drivers and passengers to be as safe and connected than ever before. The Jaguar I-PACE is expected to be available as a 2019 model year in the second half of 2018.