Look out Tesla, Jaguar has just revealed its all-new fully electric SUV, the I-Pace, and it’s a beauty.
The I-Pace will be on sale in New Zealand later this year with prices and specifications to be announced closer to the sale date.
But Jaguar Land Rover NZ general manager Steve Kenchington says already more than two dozen Kiwis have placed a deposit on the vehicle.
“The high number of local customers who have already purchased the I-Pace, without having seen the new model or had details of pricing and launch timing, demonstrates the potential demand for this vehicle,” he said.
“We are expecting to field a lot more inquiry before the second quarter of next year when the I-Pace will arrive in New Zealand.”
Jaguar Australia will launch the S, SE, HSE and First Edition I-Pace in October. At the launch in the Algarve, Portugal this weekend, Driven tested the First Edition and entry level S.
The I-Pace’s body structure weighs 2100kg and is 94 per cent aluminium, more than any Jaguar.
There is a battery pack in the floor and two electric motors front and rear. The battery pack contains 90kWh of lithium ion batteries with 432 battery pouch cells using nickel manganese cobalt. They combine to produce 294kW of power and 696Nm of torque, which is up to V8 supercar standard.
And that torque is impressive, going from 0-100km/h in 4.8seconds.
The fully charged I-Pace will drive 480km. Those figures are from EU-based figures from Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) lab test.
In real world terms that 480km figure is realistic, as we drove extensive around the Algarve, Portugal, combining motorway speeds of 120km/h, inland mountain winding roads (up to 90km/h) and village speeds (50km/h) with more than 200km/h of driving.
The I-Pace sits between the E- and F-Pace when it comes to size, with the fully electric vehicle 4682mm long, 2139mm wide and 1565mm high.
It sits 130mm lower than the F-Pace with an impressive centre of gravity.
Boot space is 656 litres, with 27 litres of cargo room available in the front boot, or froot, as Jaguar calls it. Telsa calls this front storage a frunk (front trunk).
The exterior look is futuristic with a cutting edge design for Jaguar, thanks in part for the need to create an aerodynamic vehicle so the use of vents for air to flow over the vehicle is inventive.
While there is no need for a front grille as there is no engine to cool, Jaguar decided on a diamond inset grille that curved at the top, not only allowing for air to flow into it and out then of a vent on the bonnet, but also to create a eye catching look.
The air flows over the roof before hitting a roof-mounted spoiler that Jaguar claims means no need for a rear windscreen wiper as air is pushed over the spoiler and also down in vents to push any moisture off the screen.
The floor battery, and lack of front engine, means the cabin space is impressive, while the I-Pace gains a new 10in infotainment system and a smaller screen below it.
An impressive aspect is the regenerative braking, which when set on high, means you don’t have to use the brakes any time in your journey. Instead, the moment you lift your foot off the accelerator it begins to brake, creating single pedal driving.
* See Saturday’s Driven in The Weekend Herald for our full report from the launch