Ice cool I-Pace leads Jaguar’s electric charge

Jaguar’s first all-electric performance car has been undergoing testing in Arctic conditions at -40°C.

The I-Pace SUV and its all-wheel drive system tamed sub-zero conditions at Jaguar Land Rover’s cold weather test facility in Arjeplog, Sweden.

Due to receive its global premiere on March 6 at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar claims the I-Pace will feature “sports car performance and SUV practicality” and it will be “the perfect everyday car – whether on the school run, daily commute or even coping with sub-zero temperatures”.

Capable of charging to 80% capacity in 45 minutes (using a DC 100kW charger), the I-Pace was recently voted by readers of What Car? magazine as the most anticipated new car of 2018, securing six times the votes of any other model on the shortlist.

Customers will even be able to use mains power to prepare the car’s battery and cabin temperature ahead of a journey to ensure maximum range, performance and comfort whether temperatures are freezing cold or extremely hot.

Setting up preferred charging times and pre-conditioning schedules can be done from either the on-board InControl system, or the Remote smartphone APP, and is as easy as setting an alarm.

“Not only will the I-Pace charge quickly enough for our customers to carry out their everyday lives, it will offer powerful and precise performance in a variety of conditions and climactic extremes,” explained Ian Hoban, Jaguar Vehicle Line Director.

“Allied with the versatile credentials of our celebrated PACE family, this will be an electric performance SUV like no other.”

Power for the I-Pace comes from two electric motors, at the front and rear, making it four-wheel drive. It can accelerate to 60mph from standstill in around four seconds and will have a range of some 310 miles.

• Jaguar Land Rover’s Ice Academy in Sweden is now open to customers until mid-March.
• This year it will welcome around 350 customers to develop their ice-driving skills in a fleet of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.