(c)Jaguar

Jaguar has released details of its first ever purpose-built electric vehicle. The Jaguar I-PACE Concept is due out in 2018, with the production version to be released next year.

The five-seater sports car is a first real electric alternative to a traditional premium SUV, the company said.

The car will have a cab-forward, sporting driving position, with no tailpipe emissions and instant acceleration. The battery packs and two compact electric motors were designed by Jaguar Land Rover to make them more efficient.

Integrated into the front and rear axles, the motors offer a combined power output of 400PS and 700Nm of torque, which is exactly the same torque rating as the F-TYPE SVR.  

This will be Jaguar’s first-ever battery-powered electric vehicle and opens a new chapter

In addition, the average user should only have to charge the car once a week, as it has a predicted range of more than 500km on the NEDC cycle.

In-car tech

You can expect the inside of the car to be packed with cutting edge tech, including three screens in the ‘flightdeck’ style cockpit. There will be two touchscreens in the centre console, and a virtual instrument cluster behind the steering wheel.

The floating centre console connects with the dashboard and ‘ensconces’ the driver,providing a a level of mechanical connection with the vehicle by positioning gearshift functions on its metal struts.

The I-PACE Concept will also feature a configurable 12-inch HD virtual instrument cluster and a full-colour, head-up display.

Connected car tech-wise, the I-PACE Concept’s system is designed in-house around a powerful quad-core processor, a high-speed solid-state drive and ultra-fast Ethernet network.

The car will also have  a Wi-Fi hotspot, and enable passengers to use apps on their iOS and Android smartphones through the vehicle’s main touchscreen using InControl Apps. The range of apps, optimised for in-vehicle use to reduce driver distraction, is growing all the time and now includes a unique Spotify app which is the first to offer recommended playlists on the Spotify homescreen.

“The I-PACE Concept is a radical departure for electric vehicles. It represents the next generation of battery electric vehicle design. It’s a dramatic, future-facing design – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA matched with beautiful, premium details and British craftsmanship.

“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.” Ian Callum, director of design at Jaguar.