Jaguar I-PACE hits the road

Jaguar has continued the slow-release lead-up to its first electric vehicle, the I-PACE, by taking to London roads in the sleek SUV concept that made its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show last November.

Since then spy shots of the production car in testing — also on public roads — have confirmed the showroom version will be almost identical to the steroidal concept, save for the addition of a third side window, lack of a bonnet vent and slightly toned down rear haunches.

And at last week's Geneva show, Jaguar confirmed it has already taken 350 deposits  for the all-electric SUV, six of which have come from Australia, where the I-PACE was due on sale for around $120,000 by mid-2018.

However, Jaguar today said the I-PACE, which will debut in final production form late this year, "will be on the road in the second half of 2018", making a mid-2018 Australian arrival unlikely.

In any case, Jaguar Australia is encouraging prospective owners to go to its public website and click the 'I want one' button to register their interest for the ground-breaking new model, which will be the British car-maker's second SUV after the slightly larger (and cheaper) F-PACE.

Despite being driven exclusively by a pair of compact, lightweight electric motors at the front and rear axles, generating a combined output of 295kW/700Nm, Jaguar says the all-wheel drive SUV will "deliver the agility, ride comfort and refinement that will set it apart from all other electric vehicles: it will be a true Jaguar and a true drivers’ car".

Indeed, Jaguar claims 0-100km/h acceleration in around four seconds, along with a driving range of more than 500km from its 90kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in just 90 minutes with a 50kW DC charger.

“The feedback on the I-PACE Concept has been fantastic," said Jaguar design director Ian Callum in today's press release.

"With the I-PACE Concept we’ve torn up the rule book to create a vehicle with supercar inspired aesthetics, sports car performance and SUV space, in one electric package. It has surprised people and the enthusiasm for our first electric vehicle has been beyond all my expectations.

“Driving the concept on the streets is really important for the design team. It’s very special to put the car outside and in the real-world. You can see the true value of the I-PACE’s dramatic silhouette and powerful proportions when you see it on the road, against other cars. The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of battery electric vehicle design. For me, the future of motoring has arrived.”