Jaguar is one luxury vehicle manufacturer that has not really jumped aboard the SUV bandwagon unlike the likes of BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Volvo. Perhaps there was a whole lot of tussle and discussion going on at the boardroom to discuss the merits and possible disadvantages of entering such a market. Well, significant advancements have been made in the luxury SUV market, although they have gained a reputation of being gas guzzlers. The likes of BMW have come up with a hybrid version of their BMW X5, and that should help keep the GreenPeace activists at bay for the moment. However, it looks like Jaguar has decided to go one step further, unveiling their all-electric SUV concept known as the Jaguar I-Pace.
Before we continue, let it be established that a concept will remain just that -- a concept, until it enters the manufacturing phase. Perhaps the final product will be very different from what we see here, or there might just be some minor tweaks and changes made to the design and features. Who knows, really? Still, the I-Pace from Jaguar is a thing of beauty if it ever makes it off the production lines.
The Jaguar I-Pace is no pushover when it comes to performance, capable of delivering 400 horsepower of performance. This is pretty impressive for an all-electric vehicle, considering the kerb weight that it has to handle, and what more with a full load on board. The Los Angeles Motor Show was the platform for the Jaguar I-Pace’s .unveiling, and it has been whispered that there will be a production version slated for a 2018 release, which means you have slightly more than a year to start saving up for a downpayment.
The Jaguar I-Pace will be the first electric vehicle from Jaguar, and it will also be its second SUV to date. The Jaguar I-Pace will be an all-wheel-drive platform, where it is touted to come with an estimated driving range of 220 miles, which is pretty decent actually. Jaguar Land Rover might just improve on the final figure when the real deal arrives, or at the very least maintain it, but how far will it be able to go on a full load?
The I-Pace will come with a "cab-forward" design: that is, it will sport a short hood. This is because there is no need for the SV to actually tote around a large engine for a people mover like this, and the shape itself results in improved aerodynamics and additional interior space -- where the former will also do its bit to help enhance the driving range in the long run.
Not only that, the Jaguar I-Pace’s wheels will be placed farther out, which would be closer to the ends of the all-electric SUV. This helps the driving performance by some bit, and part of it was out of necessity in order to accommodate the presence of the large, flat battery pack. With a combined 400 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque, this will be a continuation of the best selling Jaguar F-Pace SUV, except that this will be electric powered. No word on pricing as at press time, so feel free to speculate away!
