“We wanted to design the world’s most desirable EV and I’m confident we’ve met that challenge,” says director of Jaguar design Ian Callum. He is referring to the I-Pace, the marque’s first pure battery-powered electric car, teased today ahead of the global debut next week at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
The I-Pace is an exciting car for Jaguar for it challenges elements of conventional vehicle design – its unique proportions set the car apart from fuel-powered Jaguars. Instead of the typical long Jaguar bonnet, Callum and his team have introduced an intriguing cab-forward profile as a visual expression of the ecological engine beneath the metal sheet. “The electric powertrain offered us unprecedented design freedom,” explains Callum, adding that despite its unique voice, the car remains “unmistakably a Jaguar”.
The production car has remained loyal to the concept of the same name debuted at the LA motor show two years ago. I recall speaking with Callum at the time who had this to say, “I believe if you do this kind of Jaguar you have to be bold in the design. I wanted to create a design that reflected this change in the mechanics of the car.”
His original design was influenced by the C-X75, the brilliant supercar concept revealed eight years ago heralding a new and confident era for Jaguar design. The study car’s sleek coupé-like silhouette, sweeping front fenders, the drama of its curves and muscular haunches, as well as 22-inch wheels have all found an expression in the I-Pace.
The sculpture is aerodynamic too boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.29. The low bonnet is curved in a way that allows air to flow seamlessly across; there is a sweeping roofline and squared-off rear, while flush door handles help direct air away from the volume of the car.
The face takes on a more conventional turn to continue the contemporary Jaguar theme. For Callum it is critical for his cars to be recognizable as a family. Saying that, the I-Pace evolves the classic grille design to be a bold aerodynamic feature, channeling airflow through the integral bonnet scoop and over the windscreen onto the roofline to reduce drag. Airflow for battery cooling and the climate control system passes through the grille and active vanes in apertures in the front bumper, which open when required.
For the interior, Callum and his team of creatives set out to design “an emotive and atmospheric space.” He says. “The driver is central to the experience and passengers are afforded the space they need.” Jaguar’s Touch Pro Duo flight deck-style infotainment, floating center console, high-definition touchscreen displays and rotary controllers together help create an intuitive cockpit.
I-Pace offers a generous interior space thanks to the electric drivetrain and architecture that underpin the car. The absence of a transmission tunnel in the center of the car opens up plenty of room for storage space in the console and at the rear where there is 656 liters of luggage capacity. Despite the dramatic sloping roofline, there is plenty of rear headroom too because of the low-slung seating position, which also promises a sportier driving position. Finally, the optional, full-size panoramic roof floods the cabin with light.
Jaguar’s electric car is powered by a 90kWh lithium-ion battery promising a range of up to 298 miles, while the combination of all-wheel drive, 400PS and 696Nm of instantaneous torque, expected of EVs, gives this clean performance SUV impressive acceleration, reaching 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds – all of which will be put to the test next week. Forbes
