Jaguar has given the I-Pace its first proper update since the electric car went on sale in 2018. The EV is currently ranked as the firm's fourth best-selling model following a somewhat successful 2019 with 17,355 cars were delivered worldwide. Not bad for an EV, although things could be quite different in 2020, with the car already facing battery supply chain issues even before the effects of a global pandemic took hold. Jaguar is understandably keen to re-ignite demand for its ground-breaking model with the introduction of a lightly facelifted version for 2020.
The updates are headed by JLR's all-new infotainment system called Pivo Pro, which made its debut in the Land Rover Defender. Fronted by a 12.3-inch display, the system is said to be 75 per cent faster than the one it replaces and will learn its user’s preferences over time. Thanks to greater connectivity provided by a 4G SIM, Pivo Pro offers access to more real-time data including pricing info on local charging stations, illustrated on 3D maps.
The car’s range remains 292 miles according to WLTP figures. Drive is still delivered by a brace of permanent magnet electric motors – each driving an axle, powered by a 90kWh battery pack. The carried-over output of 400hp and 513lb ft of torque still results in a 4.5 second 0-60mph dash and top speed of 124mph. Only now the cells can be charged one of three ways, with an 11kW on-board charger fitted as standard for 2020. Using an 11kW wall box adds 33 miles of WLTP’d range per hour or gets the battery back to full in 8.6 hours – amounting to a convenient overnight charge time.
While this will satisfy the vast majority of use cases (the average commuter would only need to charge their I-Pace once a week, according to Jaguar), quicker charges are obviously possible. With a 50kW plug, 39 miles can be added in 15 minutes, while a 100kW charger will add 78 miles in the same time. Conversely, those using a conventional 7kW wall box get 22 miles per hour of plug time, with the full empty to full taking 12.75 hours. Not class-leading by any means, but more than acceptable – and pretty decent considering the Jag’s price-point.
To help reduce the energy usage in the tweaked I-Pace, minor aero changes mean the car’s active pieces will remain in their slipperiest positions for longer. The changes are said to extend range without impacting the model's cooling ability. On the subject of air, also among the improvements is the car’s ionisation system, which now comes with a PM2.5 filter, capturing ultrafine airborne particles and allergens before they reach the cabin. The I-Pace can filter its air before a journey begins; other cabin features including the climate control can also be pre-set before passengers board via the smartphone app.
Convenience features extend to driving, too. Standouts include the standard-fit 3D surround camera system and digital rear view mirror that deploys a wide-angle camera (drivers can switch it off and use the normal mirror should they prefer), while an extensive suite of active driving aids is inevitably on hand to help with the heavy lifting. As before, the I-Pace chassis comes with a choice of either coil springs - which work with passive or adaptive dampers - or air suspension. In all states, the I-Pace has so far impressed with its sharp handling – in pre-update form, we proclaimed it as being the best handling EV this side of the Porsche Taycan.
Alan Volkaerts, Jag’s vehicle line director for the Jaguar I-Pace, said of the 2020 updates: “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. 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 designers have had a small go at changes for the 2020 I-Pace, too. You get an Atlas Grey grille tip finish and an extended paint palette, while new wheels and a Bright Pack option have been introduced for the model year. Overall, the look is the same – and we’re totally fine with that because the I-Pace remains a basically handsome thing. Prices, too, are largely the same for the 2020 car, with the lineup starting at £65,195. That’s £5k more than Audi’s E-tron, but the I-Pace remains the sharper, quicker offering. Jaguar will hope that the rest of its alterations make a similar amount of sense to new buyers.
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