The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace is getting smarter and faster – that is, it will now come with more connectivity and faster charging capabilities, the luxury car maker announced on Tuesday.
First introduced in Australia in 2018, the premium I-Pace electric SUV has had a modest uptake with a little more than 220 vehicles sold in Australia so far.
A range of new upgraded infotainment features, as well as faster AC charging will add to its appeal, as should increased driver-assist tech and enhanced air filtering.
With a slew of car awards including the 2019 World Car of the Year title, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car under its belt, the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace with 470km driving range (WLTP) and 696Nm torque is now priced at $128,860 before on-road costs.
“When we developed the I-Pace we wanted it to be the world’s most desirable electric vehicle and to show what happens when Jaguar goes electric,” said Alan Volkaerts, I-Pace line director, in a statement.
“I think we’ve achieved those ambitious goals, and now we’ve made it even better with a new infotainment system, three-phase charging and technology that benefits driver and passengers alike.”
The faster AC charging rate of 11kW means when at home, the office or destinations such as shopping centres, the I-Pace will add 53km driving range per hour (this requires a three-phase connection and is dependent on the available charging device).
On the infotainment front, the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace now boasts an intuitive and quick system called Pivi Pro that includes embedded Spotify and the ability to connect two smartphones to Bluetooth at once, all accessible via the I-Pace’s 12.3 inch virtual instrument cluster accompanied by 10″ and 5″ upper and lower touchscreens and haptic controls.
The quick new Pivi Pro boots up before the vehicle is ready to leave the driveway, and taking a cue from smartphones can be navigated using a series of gestures such as pinching fingers and swiping.
It also includes enhanced navigation features that will make getting around town that much easier, by showing available EV charging stations (where made possible y providers).
In the driver assist arena, the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace offers a new 3D surround camera combined with a “Clearsight” rear view digital mirror to ensure optimal vision in all angles.
To ensure driver and passenger are not subjected to the fumes and particle pollution still inherent in today’s traffic, and PM2.5 filtration system clean the internal air can be used while driving and even set to filter before the start of a trip.
Volkaerts says in addition to the connectivity, driver assist and charging upgrades, a subtle design update on the outside keeps the 2021 I-Pace fresh.
“We’ve also subtly enhanced the design with an Atlas Grey finish to the grille mesh and with the new Bright Pack option. I-PACE was the first premium all-electric performance SUV: every change we’ve made ensures that it’s still the benchmark in its class,” says Volkaerts.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.