Jaguar I-Pace set to beat rivals into showrooms

THE RACE to bring a credible, all- electric, premium rival to Tesla to market has been going on for a while now, but Jaguar looks to be winning the race to have its model in showrooms ahead of the likes of Audi and Porsche.

Announcing the intention to build such a vehicle is one thing, but getting it into showrooms in front of consumers is something altogether more challenging.

Jaguar made its intentions to produce its fi rst- ever EV clear only as recently as March of this year, when it unveiled its I-Pace all- electric SUV to the world. Jaguar has now committed to it going on sale in 2018, although the British luxury manufacturer has declined to be more specific than that.

Among the Jaguar’s rivals, Audi had also said it intended to reveal its own contender next year, the e-tron all- electric SUV, but it’s now being reported that production isn’t going to commence until at least early 2019.

The Jaguar I-Pace is expected to have a driving range of some 500 km under the latest European Driving Cycle test procedure, and more than 355 km under the tougher US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) standard.

Although not particularly specific, Jaguar says the I-Pace can be charged from fl at to 80 per cent of a full charge using a 50 kW fast charger in what it describes as a “short break.”

The same range has been promised by Audi and Porsche, so getting to market fi rst would give the Jaguar a crucial market advantage over its rivals. — Relaxnews