All-electric Jaguar SUV a month away

Jaguar has announced it will reveal its first all-electric model, the I-PACE, in a live global broadcast at 19:00 CET on March 1 (05:00 AEDST March 2), when it will also go on sale.

No pricing indication has been given but, as we’ve reported, the sleek battery-powered crossover will beat similar electric SUVs from Mercedes-Benz and Audi when it arrives in Australia in October.

That means it will arrive Down Under, where several keen Aussies have already placed orders, just seven months after its world public premiere at the Geneva motor show on March 6, and only six months after the all-new E-PACE small SUV.

Jaguar has today also confirmed the I-PACE, which is around the same size as its F-PACE SUV, will bring “rapid charging and rapid performance”.

It says the low-slung five-door wagon will offer fast-charge functionality from zero to 80 per cent of battery capacity in less than 45 minutes using a 100kW DC charger.

“Customers will be able to use mains power to prepare the car’s battery and cabin temperature ahead of a journey,” said Jaguar.

“Pre-conditioning the car ensures maximum range, performance and comfort whether temperatures are freezing cold or extremely hot.

“Setting up preferred charging times and pre-conditioning schedules can be done from either the on-board InControl system, or the remote smartphone app, and is as easy as setting an alarm.”

Furthermore, as evidenced by this YouTube video showing a potential Scandinavian customer testing the all-wheel drive SUV in Arctic conditions, the I-PACE will also be capable of “sports car performance”.

Swede Tony Westerlund was invited to drive the I-PACE at Jaguar Land Rover’s cold-weather test facility in Arjeplog, Sweden, at temperatures as low as -40°C.

“Not only will the I-PACE charge quickly enough for our customers to carry out their everyday lives, it will offer powerful and precise performance in a variety of conditions and climactic extremes,” said Jaguar vehicle line director Ian Hoban.

“Allied with the versatile credentials of our celebrated PACE family, this will be an electric performance SUV like no other.”

Jaguar Australia is already inviting expressions of interest at its public website, while the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy -- which will host around 350 customers until mid-March -- is now open for 2019 bookings, with three- and four-night packages priced from €2990 ($A4600) per person.