I-PACE concept previews jaguar’s first-ever electric vehicle

the jaguar ‘I-PACE’ concept is an electric performance SUV with a bold, cab-forward design that combines a supercar silhouette with sports car performance, and five-seater SUV versatility. with a predicted range of over 500 km on the NEDC cycle (more than 220 miles EPA), drivers with the average daily commute will only need to recharge the vehicle once per week. a new electric vehicle architecture has enabled jaguar’s designers and engineers to tear up the rule book on usability. the electric jaguar occupies less road space than conventional mid-size SUVs, yet offers more room for passengers and luggage than models in the segment above.

I-PACE concept previews jaguar’s first-ever electric vehicle 

the jaguar I-PACE concept is one of the most visually arresting concepts ever produced by the british automaker. taking full advantage of the packaging freedom offered by electrification, the design and engineering teams have taken the opportunity to rethink the vehicle’s overall proportions. the result is a vehicle that combines an advanced cab-forward design inspired by the ‘C-X75’ supercar with the smooth silhouette of a coupe – in a five-seater SUV. the ‘I-PACE’ concept embodies the technological advances under its skin – and the jaguar design team’s belief that consumers are ready for bolder electric vehicle designs.

production model to be revealed in late 2017

without an internal combustion engine and transmission tunnel to package, the concept’s design brings the cabin forward; extends the wheelbase; and shortens the overhangs. this enables the silhouette to become more aerodynamic and the haunches to develop more powerful proportions. it also enlarges the interior space and improves vehicle dynamics and visibility. as a result, the ‘I-PACE’s’ profile has more in common with the ‘C-X75’ mid-engine supercar than conventional SUVs. evidence lies within the cab-forward proportions; the dynamic heart line,;the curve of the front fenders; the powerful proportions of the rear haunches; and the large, purposeful wheels. and yet the concept’s overall footprint is as compact as conventional mid-sized SUVs’. the long, 2,990 mm wheelbase creates a voluminous interior with a level of rear knee room usually only found in full-size 4x4s and luxury saloons.

expected to hit the road in 2018

the ‘I-PACE’ concept exudes muscular performance. the low bonnet, flanked by curving wheel arches, combines sports car aesthetics with an SUV’s presence. a broad, distinctive grille with a hexagonal grid in gloss black retains a key element of jaguar design DNA while also providing aerodynamic benefits. airflow also passes through the ‘C-X75’-derived bonnet scoop, helping to reduce drag. slimline full LED headlights with jaguar’s signature ‘double-j’ daytime running light motif further emphasize the vehicle’s clean lines. 

predicted range: > 500km

with its streamlined profile, sweeping lines, large wheels and muscular rear haunches, the ‘I-PACE’ represents a new generation of electric vehicles. bringing together hallmarks of the jaguar brand with new lines, made possible by the concept vehicle’s state-of-the-art electric powertrain, creates a dynamic aesthetic that expresses its performance, innovation and style. the long wheelbase and short overhangs enable a coupe-like roofline. the cabin sits low between sweeping fenders, creating a sense of movement and giving the body a fast, tapering waistline. the dynamic window lines further enhance the sports car looks. the cab-forward design is accentuated by the windscreen’s fast angle and heavily curved glass, flowing down into a low bonnet that adds to the sense of supercar style. the muscular wheel arches are sculpted around 23-inch ‘nighthawk’ wheels in technical grey with gloss black inserts and a luxurious diamond-turned finish, which broadcast the ‘I-PACE’s’ sense of purpose. the powerful rear haunches add to the muscular stance, further enhancing its sports car-like poise.

boasts a larger interior volume

the five-seater concept vehicle is a clear statement of jaguar’s plans for the production model with future-focused design pervading the open, spacious interior. it also showcases the blend of cutting-edge technologies and traditional materials that characterize the british manufacturer’s vision for electric luxury. the ‘I-PACE’ also demonstrates just how much interior space jaguar’s cab-forward design and electric powertrain creates. the driver focus that typifies jaguar cockpits is complemented by intuitive interface designs and advanced materials that demonstrate jaguar craftsmanship in new ways.

driver + passenger have sporty seating position

the driver and passengers sit lower than in conventional SUVs. the concept’s slimline seats position the hips lower in relation to the heels. this ‘sports command’ driving position provides a sports car’s sense of connection with the road. the ‘I-PACE’s’ cab-forward position, low bonnet and short overhangs provide the driver with an exceptional view of the road and the vehicle’s surroundings. the front wings beautifully frame the road ahead, enabling drivers to select the line through corners with confidence. the interior’s breadth and feeling of spaciousness is clear from the moment the door opens. entering the vehicle, the driver can view the entire width of the flat floor through a cantilevered centre console, providing an immediate sense of the space the vehicle’s innovative design has created. the instrument panel is positioned low and its simple horizontal lines and minimalist switchgear help further emphasize the interior’s size. the centre console cossets the driver, with two ‘looping’ metal struts beautifully framing the access to a stowage area under the control panel – a motif that will recur in other future jaguars. these struts also enable a tactile replacement to the traditional gear shifter. buttons integrated into the strut enable the driver to reach down and select forward, neutral, park or reverse intuitively with a simple press of the thumb.

luxurious materials adorn the interior

throughout the ‘I-PACE’s’ interior jaguar’s careful selection of high quality, natural materials and its high standards of craftsmanship bring a pervasive sense of luxury and sustainability. the interior’s finishes create rich textural contrasts. windsor leather covers the front of the seats, laser-cut with jaguar’s signature lozenge motif, sewn with contrasting twin-needle stitching and edged with colored carbon fiber trim. the seat backs are finished in moonstone alcantara. the doors offer similarly tonal layering of aluminum; alcantara; and dark, unvarnished open pore walnut veneers. fine details such as the audio speaker grilles are integrated into the door handle finishers and feature a jewel-like, 3D relief that also references jaguar’s lozenge motif. a full-length panoramic glass roof extends the sweeping angle of the windscreen and floods the concept’s interior with natural light. the glass integrates seamlessly into the interior thanks to a lozenge-patterned ceramic print that unites the roof with other interior surface finishes. at night, an array of LEDs embedded in the roof illuminate the patterned glass to create a stunning visual effect.

the ‘I-PACE’ concept delivers the driver-focused performance and response jaguar is renowned for. to deliver this, it has electric motors at the front and rear axles. together these deliver 400 ps and 700 nM of instant torque. electric all-wheel drive delivers all-surface, all-weather driveability. response is immediate and the system provides exceptional control over the front and rear torque distribution, responding immediately to driver inputs; road conditions; and vehicle characteristics. the concept’s dynamics and responsiveness are further enhanced by the battery’s ideal position beneath the floor and between the axles, which lowers the centre of gravity and reduces yaw inertia.

jaguar land rover engineers designed and developed the synchronous, permanent magnet electric motors in-house to achieve the most compact design, greatest efficiency and maximum power density. they have an outer diameter of just 234 mm and are only 500 mm long. rather than the conventional, offset configuration which places the transmission in front of the motor, the electric SUV features a more space-efficient concentric layout, which contributes directly to the excellent ground clearance and spacious interior. electrification also enables greater comfort: by selecting a higher level of regenerative braking in stop-and-go traffic, for instance, the driver can drive with a single pedal, with no need to apply the brakes to halt the car.

to ensure drivers can enjoy and safely exploit the i-pace concept’s performance in even the worst conditions, the inherent benefits of all-wheel drive are enhanced with jaguar’s unique state-of-the-art traction technologies, including all surface progress control (ASPC) and adaptive surface response (ADSR). the jaguar ‘f-pace’ set the class benchmark for its unrivaled balance of ride, handling and refinement and the ‘I-PACE’ will do the same. the sophisticated suspension design, the benefits of a low centre of gravity and incorporating all of the lessons learnt developing the ‘f-type’ and ‘f-pace’ will set the concept SUV apart from all other electric vehicles. the front suspension system is the same double-wishbone configuration proven in both the ‘f-type’ and ‘f-pace’.

for most customers, the ‘I-PACE’ could be the first electric car they have owned. research and innovations by the engineering and design teams have simplified the ownership experience and lowered the barriers to adoption. the electric motors, battery pack and management systems give the best possible performance and a useful range for most daily journeys. the concept’s range is more than 500 km on the european NEDC combined cycle and over 220 miles on the US EPA cycle. with an average daily commute of 40 – 50 km, most customers will need to charge the car just once a week. the battery can be charged at public charging stations, a dedicated wall box at home, or simply using conventional domestic power sockets. charging is easy and quick, with 80 per cent charge achieved in 90 minutes and 100 per cent in just over two hours using 50 kW DC charging.

the battery uses pouch cells selected for their energy density, superior thermal performance due to lower internal resistance, and because of the design freedom they afford. and, unlike some competing cell formats, they also offer excellent future development potential, especially in terms of energy density – this will enable greater range for a given size of battery, or will deliver similar range to today but from a smaller, lighter pack. energy efficiency is further enhanced by integrating an innovative heat pump into the climate control system. the heat pump is far more efficient than conventional electric heaters because it uses energy from the outside air to heat the cabin rather than relying solely on drawing current from the battery. as a result it can increase the ‘I-PACE’ concept’s range by up to 50 km, even in freezing winter conditions when most needed.

‘this isn’t just a concept. it is a preview of a five-seat production car that will be on the road in 2018. this will be jaguar’s first-ever battery-powered electric vehicle and opens a new chapter in the history of our legendary brand,’ comments jaguar’s director of design, ian callum.