The electric car segment is expanding at a fast pace in India with cars like Hyundai Kona, Tata Nexon and MG ZS EV attracting the environment-conscious buyer. But surprisingly even the luxury segment is contributing with its fair share of offerings. Last year Mercedes-Benz launched the EQC in India and Volvo too has revealed that it will soon launch an electric variant of its most affordable SUV, the XC40, in the market called the XC40 Recharge. And now Tata-owned British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has launched its first electric in India, the I-Pace.
LOOKS & TECHNOLOGY
The good thing is that the car is not too different from the I-Pace concept. The pronounced front wheel arches, Matrix LED headlights and rear diffuser are some of the supercar’s inspired styling elements. It is the first Jaguar in India to receive the new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster features completely revised graphics to give an even clearer indication of battery state of charge. The I-Pace is available with a wireless device charging pad beneath the ‘floating’ centre console. Wireless charging also includes signal boosting, ensuring the phone’s signal remains strong for longer. A smartphone pack with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available, as is Bluetooth technology which can pair two phones simultaneously.
The I-PACE is equipped with Software over the Air (SOTA) functionality. This means systems including infotainment, battery management and charging can be updated remotely. Using the vehicle’s built-in data connection, the latest software can also be downloaded automatically. The ClearSight rear view mirror is a highlight in the cabin which improves vision and convenience by ensuring the driver always has an unobstructed view of the road behind even with three people in the rear seat. It uses a wide-angle, rear-facing camera linked to a high-resolution screen within the frameless glass mirror. A small toggle switch on the mirror allows the driver to switch seamlessly between the view from the standard mirror and the camera feed. In addition to this, the car gets a 4-zone climate control system, 360-degree 3D surround view camera and a pre-conditioning system which optimises battery temperature to purge the cabin of allergens and ultrafine particles before beginning a journey.
PERFORMANCE
The I-Pace runs on a 90-kWh battery which is positioned within the floor, between the axles, giving a low centre of gravity and near perfect weight distribution. As you would expect in a powerful electric car, the linear acceleration is instantaneous with no lag and no gear shift interruptions. 294 kW of peak power takes you from 0-100 km/h in only 4.8 seconds. And that is not all; a peak torque figure of 696 Nm is sure to satiate the needs of the enthusiast within you. The car is underpinned by an advanced electric vehicle architecture created specifically for the SUV that promises superior driving dynamics while minimising weight. According to Jaguar, the double wishbone suspension at the front and integral link suspension at the rear have been tuned to give the perfect balance of dynamic handling and refinement.
CHARGING
Jaguar claims the I-Pace can cover 470 km (WLTP cycle) on a single charge. Apart from driving patterns, features like Eco mode and regenerative braking also help in improving the range. The car comes with an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger and the company says its 22 retail outlets across 19 cities are now EV ready with over 35 EV chargers installed and more underway. These chargers are a combination of 7.4 kW AC chargers and 25 kW DC (fast) chargers. The installation of a charger at the customer’s house will be done by Tata Power Ltd and the customers may also access Tata Power’s EZ Charge network of around 200 I-Pace compatible charging points on a use and pay basis.
PRICE & WARRANTY
The I-Pace has been launched in 3 variants—S, SE & HSE with prices ranging from Rs 1.05 crore to Rs 1.12 crore (ex-showroom, India). Jaguar is providing a complimentary 5 years’ service package, 5 years roadside assistance package, 8 years or 160 000 km battery warranty and a 7.4 kW AC wall mounted charger with the car.