Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace makes debut in production-ready form
The all-electric SUV boasts a near-500km driving range and a 400hp per formance. By Richard Leu
Will it sell in Thailand?
Has it changed much from the previous concept car? When Jaguar revealed the all-electr ic I- Pace in concept form in late 2016, it said the production- ready model — seen here in official pictures — wouldn’t differ much. While the shape remains basically the same as the show car, some of the concept car’s exaggerated dimensions, like the wide stance, have been toned down for the showroom. Jaguar has become the first luxury car brand to chase for the success of the Tesla Model X, ahead of the Audi E-tron and the Mercedes-Benz EQ C. BMW and Volvo are also planning to join the BEV (battery electric vehicle) race with all- electric SUVs by 2020. The Jag’s specs seem familiar …
That’s beca use the specification has been mostly summed up at the concept car’s reveal. The I- Pace has two electric motors, one driving the front axle and another the rear one to essentially make it a four- wheel drive. The 90kWh lithium-ion batter y pack is placed beneath a cabin floor designed on a dedicated platform for BEVs. Jaguar promises a good handling and ride balance in the brand’s usual fashion.
As its badge suggests, the I-Pace EV400 has 400hp and 696Nm of torque to help propel itself from zero to 96kph in 4.5 seconds. The driving range is rated at 477km under the new global WLTP test cycle.
With a rapid charging system, the I- Pace’s battery can be rejuvenated up to 80% in 85 minutes; a 30- minute charge is claimed to be sufficient for 128km of driving. Although not announced yet, expect different battery sizes to be offered in the future, depending on what buyers prefer (more performance or more driving range).
As with other premium car brands in Thailand, the decision to sell a BEV would probably not be about making money at the moment for all the obvious reasons.
There’s still a lack of charging infrastructure for BEVs, which also need to face high import duty. It’s also interesting to note that Britain, for one, has measures that make BEVs not only attractive in price but also in usage terms. Some of them include lower road taxes and reduced tolls — something never mentioned by the Thai government when promoting BEVs.
Sure, the Thai Jaguar importer could opt to sell the I-Pace for the kicks-oriented customers who have several other cars parked in their garages. The import taxes in Thailand would make the I-Pace cost over 5 million baht.
As Jaguar isn’t a big player in the Thai luxury car market, pricing has always been a challenge. The E-Pace, which was launched in the country this week with a 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engine, is priced at 3.6 million baht. Rivals like the BMW X1/X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA cost less than 3 million baht.