UPDATE: You can now read our first review of the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace
- All-electric SUV offers a 240-mile range
- Combines sports car driving dynamics with SUV capability
- 394 horsepower, 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds
Ahead of its Geneva Motor Show launch, the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace was unveiled at the Graz, Austria, assembly plant where the full electric compact SUV will be built. The sleek I-Pace boasts a range of up to 240 miles from its 90-kWh battery pack, making it one of the electric vehicles that offer the most driving range for 2019.
The look of the vehicle is virtually unchanged from the concept shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2016. The vehicle has a coupe-inspired styling, sweeping front fenders, muscular rear haunches and flush door handles. Optional 22-inch wheels also contribute to the vehicle’s aggressive stance.
“The I-Pace’s electric powertrain offered us unprecedented design freedom,” said Ian Callum, Jaguar’s director of design. “Starting with a clean sheet enabled the dramatic cab-forward profile, unique proportions and exceptional interior space. Yet, it is unmistakably a Jaguar. We wanted to design the world’s most desirable EV, and I’m confident that we met that challenge.”
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Compact dimensions
The I-Pace maximizes passenger space by having an exceptionally long wheelbase (117.7 inches) on a vehicle that measures just 184.3 inches overall. With the rear bench seat up, the I-Pace offers 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 51.0 cubic feet when the seat is folded flat.
The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace will be available in three trim levels, S, SE and HSE, as well as a limited run First Edition model. All models come with all-wheel drive and the vehicle is capable of 0-60 mph acceleration in just 4.5 seconds thanks to its 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque from its two electric motors.
The I-Pace rides on an independent suspension and features available adaptive continuously variable shock absorbers. The EV powertrain and battery pack positioning beneath the floor also ensures a low center of gravity and a 50:50 weight distribution that further enhances the vehicle’s dynamics. The I-Pace is equipped with an electric brake booster that helps to better balance and blend regenerative and conventional braking forces. Drivers are also allowed to select the level of regen braking, and when the highest level is chosen, the I-Pace can be driven with just the accelerator in most instances. Another feature is the ability to turn off the vehicle’s creep from a stop, which again facilitates one-pedal operation in stop-and-go traffic.
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Two touchscreens
To reduce instrument and control clutter in the cockpit, the Jaguar I-Pace relies on two touchscreens to control virtually all vehicle functions. Called the InControl Touch Pro Duo system, the infotainment screens, upper 10-inch and lower 5.5-inch units, are cleanly integrated into the vehicle’s distinctive floating center console. Another 12.3-inch interactive driver display behind the steering wheel can be configured to show vehicle operating data in a variety of formats, while an optional full-color head-up display projects key information like vehicle speed and navigation on the front windshield.
Jaguar is also introducing its EV navigation system, which factors in topography and learnings from previous trips that also include individual driving styles to calculate available range. The system also flags potential charging locations along the route if there’s not enough charge to reach the given destination. The software also includes an arrival mode, which suggests nearby parking and charge locations at the destination’s end.
Deliveries of the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace are expected to begin in the second half of 2018, with pricing announced soon.
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