Jaguar launches all-electric SUV – at £63,495
Jaguar has unveiled one of the most important new models in its illustrious history, the I-Pace.
The new car is Jaguar’s first volume all-electric vehicle and it will occupy a niche section of the market, that of the SUV.
Whilst swift and sleek, the new car will have to overcome many concerns consumers still have about the electric vehicle, notably its driving range.
Then there is the price.
Available to order in the UK now, the I-Pace will command a hefty £63,495 in the UK (excluding government incentives).
Nevertheless, the one big critical advantage the vehicle has is its zero emissions.
As concerns mount over the future of diesel engines, the all-electric option may not become simply a choice of conscience, but a necessity.
The company will be waiting to see if buyers are convinced by the new technology and whether it can live up to expectations. Although it is still likely to find a market.
Due to high demand on Jaguar’s production capabilities in the UK – the Castle Bromwich plant is already at virtual capacity – the car is being manufactured in Austria, under a contract agreement with Magna Steyr.
However, many of the components for the vehicle are being made in the UK and then exported across to Magna’s factory in Graz.
Dr Ralf Speth, CEO Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Where other companies talk about the future, we build it. We have torn up the rule book to create the newest member of the PACE family, the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE. With zero tailpipe emissions, no CO2 and no particulates, it moves us dramatically closer to our vision of a clean, safe and sustainable future.”
Jaguar claims the new I-PACE places the company at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution and said the vehicle had been designed from the outset to be an electric vehicle (EV) capable of high performance but with the ability to accommodate five adults and luggage.
The car’s all-wheel drive performance is derived from twin Jaguar-designed motors with a combined 400PS and 696Nm delivering 0-60mph in 4.5s.
The 90kWh Lithium-ion battery is said to be capable of up to 298 miles on a single charge. The vehicle is fitted with EV navigation to ensure range is optimised.
Jaguar claims that the car will be able to charge from zero to 80% capacity in 85-minutes, with a 30-minute rapid charge giving a range of about 80 miles.
The company said the car would be fully compatible with 100kW chargers as the technology is rolled out across the UK.
