The
Jaguar I-Pace is one electrified
vehicle to copy. It is equal to any gasoline/diesel vehicle offering all the
benefits of them and more. First seen at the 2016 LA Auto show the exterior
looks close to the concept
The
Jaguar BEV is an SUV with batteries flat like a skateboard under the body like
Chevy Bolts and Tesla did before.
Not only allowed designers and engineers take advantage of the lower
center of gravity but allowed them to use the space where batteries were often
stored.
The Jaguar engineers and
designers worked around the vehicle to make it look like a Jaguar should with
all the amenities. The broad oval grill and J-blade headlamps are for sure all
Jaguar. The aluminum architecture uses advanced riveting and bonding technology
to deliver a light, stiff body structure. Together with the structural battery
pack, it has a torsional rigidity of 36kNm/degree – the highest of any current
Jaguar vehicle.
The battery is placed
centrally between the two axles, and as low as possible with a seal between the
housing and the underfloor. This location enables a 50:50 weight distribution
and a low center of gravity. Together with the advanced double wishbone front
and an Integral Link rear suspension with standard Active Air Suspension and
optional configurable Adaptive Dynamics, this packaging delivers agile handling
and outstanding ride comfort.
Its
sleek, coupe-like silhouette was influenced by the Jaguar C-X75 supercar
concept; drawing inspiration for its short, low hood, aero-enhanced roof design
and curved rear window from the concept. This cab-forward design contrasts with
its squared-off rear, helping reduce the coefficient of drag. The compact
I-Pace gets a drag coefficient of .29 helping the I-Pace to get tremendous
distance from the batteries.
However,
the exterior aero design does make entrance into the rear seating a challenge.
Once inside the rear seating you are amazed at all the space and comfort.
Surrounded by exquisite interior amenities expected in a Jaguar.
Driver
and passengers have easy access to their seating. Since the front of the
vehicle has no engine and need for some of the equipment required in a petrol
model designers could introduce three large screens. One screen with a
redesigned gauge cluster that can be customized to deliver driver information
including turn-by-turn navigation and range information. A center stack has the
Jaguar InControl Touch Duo Pro with a10-inch upper display that handles
infotainment functions. The lower 5.5-inch screen operates climate control. The
Jaguar I-Pace Navigation system can do more than just plan a destination. The
system will tell you how much battery power you will need to take the route. It
can even figure out your driving habits.
The new EV navigation system
built into Touch Pro Duo calculates personalized range and charging status to
assist with driver confidence. To gather this data, the Touch Pro Duo system
analyzes the topography of the selected route to the destination and aggregates
that information with insights from previous journeys, including individual
driving styles.
The advanced system uses
‘Smart Settings’ technology – driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms
– to identify individual driver preferences, and then tailors the vehicle’s
driving and interior settings accordingly.
With
InControl you can choose between the two regeneration braking. A normal
regeneration mode that regenerates battery when braking or coasting. You can
select “Full Mode” which makes the I-Pace feel like a gas vehicle that has been
put in sport mode or dropped to a lower gear.
To
further enhance the I-Pace their App programs allow you to use the Smartphone
to set up charging times and cabin pre-heating. If you have the Amazon Alexa
you can operate many of the functions with it.
With
a 432 pouch cell, 90kWh, lithium-ion battery pack, the I-PACE delivers an
estimated range of 240 miles. Owners will be able to achieve a 0-80 percent
battery charge in around 40 minutes using publicly available 100kW DC rapid
charging facilities3. Home charging with a 230V/32A AC wall box
(7kW) will achieve the same state of charge (0-80 percent) in just over ten
hours – ideal for overnight charging.
To
ensure customers always have access to the latest infotainment, telematics and
battery energy control software, the I-PACE will also be the first Jaguar to
provide Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) updates.
The
center tunnel is not needed with the electric motor system. Designers took that
Space
and built a large center console with abundant storage .
The
designers also now could add a small trunk in the front where the engine use to
sit!
By using electric motors on both drive shafts the I-Pace can deliver
incredible horsepower and torque. Unlike internal combustion engines the
horsepower and torque are immediate.
The torque curve they state is square. The electric motors are rated
together on the I-Pace as 394 horsepower and 512 foot pounds of torque.
When normal driving is encountered the rear motor delivers all the
power. When needed the front motor immediately delivers. Automatically or when the driven pushes
the pedal. Launching the I-Pace gives instantaneous performance expected in a
Jaguar. Zero to 60 mph in 4.5
seconds.
The
Jaguar I-Pace is a true vision of the future of BEV’s. The first battery powered
vehicles were shown off nearly a decade ago many believe. But, truly GM introduced
models over two decades ago. They were photographed and test driven by me in
Philadelphia. Bulky batteries took
over storage and weighed the vehicle down. GM and their partners were far ahead
of the competition.
With
the Jaguar I-Pace even Tesla will take notes and most likely will have the
vehicle broken down to evaluate the entire system.
The
power of the electric motors allows for us to use the one pedal drive method. Letting off on the power and the I-pace
will slow down. Since the Jaguar
I-Pace has a regeneration system to recharge the batteries this is plus.
The
engineers were brilliant in cooling the batteries to allow for continued use
even at full throttle. To optimize the balance between cooling and
aerodynamics, the I-PACE relies on Active Vanes in the grille which open when
cooling is required and close when not needed; redirecting air through the
integral hood scoop, further smoothing airflow around the vehicle.
Jaguar
was aware of noise often associated with BEV vehicles and designed the I-Pace
to be quiet. They even added an active noise system that allows you to tune
precisely what sounds you get.
Pricing
on the I-Pace begins at $10,000 less than the Tesla V at $69,500.00. A premium model will be $85.000.00
plus.
When we get a production model to do a full test of the Jaguar I-Pace we will post our results.
BRUCE
HUBBARD
BONNIE
LYNCH
AUTO
ADVISOR GROUP
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