F-Pace

Make
Jaguar
Segment
SUV

At last year's LA Auto Show, Jaguar unveiled the I-Pace Concept previewing the automaker's first fully electric car that could be a serious threat to the Tesla Model X. One year later, the I-Pace is about to enter production before going on sale next year. Ahead of its reveal at next year's Geneva Motor Show in March, Jaguar has unleashed a production prototype onto the streets of California for final testing of its range after a potential customer asked if the I-Pace will have enough range to complete their favorite road trip along California's West Coast.

To find out, Jaguar engineers took them on a long-distance range test in a prototype I-Pace. According to Jaguar, the I-Pace production prototype successfully drove 200 miles from Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles to Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo on a single charge of its advanced lithium-Ion battery. It's probably no coincidence that Tesla happens to be based in California, either. Clearly, the message here is that the Jaguar I-Pace will be able to meet the high expectations of Tesla buyers. "After 1.5 million global test miles, the I-Pace is ready for production and is proven to deliver long distances on a single charge," said Ian Hoban, Jaguar Vehicle Line Director.

"Jaguar's first battery electric vehicle will also be fast to charge; our target is a zero to 80 per cent charge being achievable in a short break." The camouflaged prototype should closely resemble the final production I-Pace. Specifications and pricing haven't been confirmed, but the concept debuted with two magnet electric motors at the front and rear axles sending a combined output of 395 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. 0-62 mph takes four seconds, and Jaguar claimed that its liquid-cooled 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides over 220 miles of range. We'll have to wait for the final production Jaguar I-Pace to be revealed at Geneva to see how closely its specifications match the original concept.

Jaguar says that thousands of potential customers have already registered their interest in placing a deposit for the electric SUV, but whether these will translate into sales remains to be seen. Order books will officially open in March 2018.