A while ago Jaguar showcased the I-Pace, an electric crossover aimed to put them on the map of electric cars. At its release Ian Callum, its designer, said that the car is a preview for the production 2018 Jaguar I-Pace. At the time this seemed like a bold statement but now it doesn’t really seem like it. Why? Well, the production version of the car has been spied in the UK wearing light camouflage and it seems mostly identical to the concept. This is great because it means Jaguar is finally going to release an electric car worthy to be the best in its class.
In detail
Considering how similar it is to the concept, the production model is also more than likely identical in terms of size to it. This means that it is shorter than the F-Pace crossover but it sports a 4.6 inches longer wheelbase. The car also seems to be around 4 inches shorter in height than the crossover which translates in a coupe-like design.
source:jaguar.com
Its price is currently unknown but most rumors suggest it will cost right around $80,000 for the base model. This would be right on par with its main rivals, so the price will definitely allow Jaguar to be highly competitive.
2018 Jaguar I-Pace design
As we said, the production model of the 2018 Jaguar I-Pace looks pretty much identical to the concept. There are minor styling differences but it still manages to impress even with camouflage on. For starters, in the front the grille is not as deep as on the concept. The headlights and bumper on the other hand seem to be pretty much on par. The wheels are much smaller but Jaguar is likely testing the smallest size rims available on the car.
source:jaguar.com
Those seen on the test mule are likely 17 or 18 inches which is still enough for a base car. In the rear the bumper doesn’t feature the highly aggressive diffuser found on the concept but that’s about it. From the profile the largest difference is seen on the rear doors. The windows here are very small but this is likely due to the car’s raked roof and Jaguar’s desire to offer fully opening rear windows.
Inside the cabin
So far we didn’t manage to have a good look at the interior of the 2018 Jaguar I-Pace. While the exterior is mostly identical to the concept, this is likely not going to happen inside. Instead, we expect a lot of influences here from both the F-Pace as well as from the new Range Rover Velar.
source:jaguar.com
The massive center screen, the fully digital set of controls or the two-screen infotainment system are likely going to be available on the electric crossover. There is also going to be quite a bit more room than in the gas-powered car due to the longer wheelbase.
The powertrain
Jaguar didn’t say much about what powers the production model. However, the concept does feature a dual-motor design with two 197 horsepower units. These add up for a total of 395 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque which is quite impressive. The car is said to feature a 90 kWh battery pack and it will likely offer 310 miles of all electric range according to the European test cycle. This is more than 30 miles less than its rival which also happens to offer a higher output. The difference is likely due to Jaguar’s weight or aerodynamic profile. Even so, the range is usually more than enough considering this is an all electric car which will support fast charging. However, the charging times are not great, at least not so far. Jaguar confirmed that the car will take 90 minutes for an 80% charge and more than 2 hours for a full charge.
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