2019 Jaguar I-Pace: Crossing Over Into the Electric Market

After two years of playing hard to get, Jaguar has finally revealed the production version of the I-Pace SUV. Actually, “revealed” may not be the best word to use, as it feels like we’ve already seen it.

The model looks so much like the earlier concept vehicle that most people wouldn’t be able to tell the two apart, even if they sat inside them. The only real difference is that the production Jag has a cushier-looking interior and a tad more ground clearance. Other than that, both vehicles are practically indistinguishable — even down to the flush door handles.

Despite the bewildering decision to name its non-electric compact luxury crossover the E-Pace and its larger, battery-driven brother the I-Pace, the automaker doesn’t appear to have done a bad job with either. While the E-Pace caters to those seeking a small-and-fancy “sport utility vehicle,” the I-Pace is for those seeing an alternative to Tesla’s Model X.

That’s most evident when you compare the two vehicles’ specs. Jag’s entry into the electrified SUV segment places a motor on each axle for a combined all-wheel output of 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque, which the manufacturer claims is good enough for a 4.5-second standing rush to 60 mph. The entry-level Model X 75D does its 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. However, the top-trimmed P100D will blow the doors off the I-Pace and just about everything else with four wheels with its 3.3-second run.

Similarly, the I-Pace’s 90 kWh battery offers an estimated range of 240 miles. This, once again, keeps it within a stone’s throw of the base Tesla, but it loses ground to better-equipped versions. Jaguar says the batteries can charge from zero to 80 percent in just 40 minutes via a 100 kW DC fast charger. Home charging solutions using a 230V AC wall box will take roughly 10 hours to do the same job.

It’s worth noting that the Model X 75D uses a smaller battery pack (75 kWh) and claims roughly the same range. It’s also a larger vehicle at 198 inches in length. The I-Pace is 184.3 inches long and loses an entire row of seating to the Tesla because of it. But Jaguar says overall interior volume is superb, better than the slightly longer F-Pace, and being a five-seat affair provides extra room for cargo.

Technology on the I-Pace appears to be superb. While there are show-off features, like flush door handles that emerge by way of a button pressed on the door or key fob, Jag has implemented plenty of substantive hardware into this crossover. The flat handles even serve a purpose. Jag says the handles improve aerodynamics, something the automaker fussed over quite a bit in designing this vehicle.

Additional standard tech includes active air suspension and Jaguar’s suite of driving aides. The I-Pace will also be the first Jaguar to get over-the-air software updates via a built-in 4G Wi-Fi. This system can, of course, be synced to multiple devices and Jag has made sure the SUV has an abundance of USB charging ports and storage areas for such items.

An available full-color head-up display projects key information such as vehicle speed and navigation instructions onto the windshield and is supplemented (if you choose to) by a 12.3-inch interactive display behind the steering wheel. That screen offers plenty of ways to customize how the driver sees data, though the I-Pace also has the ability to learn the preferences of various users by recognizing a smartphone’s Bluetooth signal. Once the car senses an approaching driver, it can adapt itself to match the user’s preferred climate control, infotainment, and seat settings.

This can also all be controlled via the model’s center console, which Jaguar says can be paired with Amazon’s Alexa. While the extent of the system’s functionality within the car isn’t totally clear, Jaguar did say users will be able to audibly access any information held in the Jaguar InControl Remote app — which includes things like service intervals and the vehicle’s current level of charge — through any Alexa-enabled device.

The massive glass panoramic roof is standard and shoppers will have their pick of Luxtec leatherette or the optional legit grained leather. There are also plenty of options for interior materials in both dark and light shades. As of today, Jaguar retailers can begin placing customer orders for the new I-Pace. However, U.S. pricing won’t be announced until the vehicle’s public debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6th.

[Images: Jaguar Land Rover]