Glimpse into Jaguar’s sleek electric future
CELEB guests around the globe have been given a glimpse of Jaguar’s electric future in what is believed to be the largest live and connected virtual reality event ever.
But there’s nothing virtual about the new Jaguar I-PACE … it will become a road-going reality in 2018 and potential customers can register now to be one of the first owners of the sleek, sporty, electrically-powered SUV.
Jaguar says that its engineering and design teams have torn up the rule book to create a bespoke electric architecture, matched with dramatic design. The result is a no-compromise smart, five seat sports car and a per- formance SUV in one - and it certainly looks the part.
So far, only one “concept” example of the I-PACE exists and it has been revealed at this week’s Los Angeles motor show. The full production version will be unveiled next year.
But 300 potential buyers around the world have already been given a “ride” in the car in an ambitious Virtual Reality show staged from VR hubs in Los Angeles and London.
Guests, including A-list stars Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr and James Corden, used VR headsets to put themselves inside the concept car and interact live with other participants. Guests “sat” on the concept’s virtual seats, had a 3600 view of LA’s Venice Beach as the concept was built piece by piece around them, then saw the I-PACE Concept race towards them across a virtual desert.
The I-PACE will have all-wheeldrive with electric motors on the front and rear axles providing a combined power output of 400PS and 700Nm of torque – the same torque rating as the Jaguar F-Type SVR.
That’s enough grunt to rocket the IPACE from rest to 60mph in around four seconds.
The state-of-the-art electric motors and 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack have been designed in-house by Jaguar Land Rover to give the best possible performance and range. An overnight charge from a normal electric socket will provide enough range to complete the average daily commute of around 50 km, says Jaguar.
However, rapid charging, using a typical public 50 KW DC charging network, will take just over two hours for a full charge and provide a range of more than 500 km, measured on the European test cycle.
Inside, the I-PACE concept bristles with even more technology. Conventional instruments and dials are re- placed by a 12-inch high-resolution interactive driver display with a further touch screen mounted above a “floating” centre console. But the hitech gizmos will be matched with traditional Jaguar features which the company says will exude “the hallmark of British craftsmanship.”
Jaguar Land Rover boss Dr Wolfgang Ziebart says: “This is an uncompromised electric vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available. The I-PACE Concept fully exploits the potential EVs can offer in space utilisation, driving pleasure and performance.”