Written by Menswear Style in Cars on the 15th November 2016

The Jaguar I-PACE Concept is one of the most visually arresting concepts ever produced by Jaguar. Taking full advantage of the packaging freedom offered by electrification, the design and engineering teams took the opportunity to rethink the vehicle’s overall proportions.

The result is an exceptional vehicle that combines an advanced cab-forward design inspired by the C-X75 supercar with the smooth silhouette of a coupe – in a five-seater SUV. The I-PACE Concept embodies the technological advances under its skin – and the Jaguar design team’s belief that consumers are ready for bolder electric vehicle designs.

“The opportunities offered by an electric powertrain are huge. Electric vehicles offer designers much greater freedom, and it is an opportunity we must grasp. This is why the I-PACE Concept is developed on a new architecture which has been designed to optimise electric vehicle performance, aerodynamics and interior space. With the I-PACE Concept, the revolution is in the profile, not the design language. The profile is possible because this car is electric. It’s not just that we wanted to create something that was very different from anything else we do: we wanted the design to celebrate the new battery electric technology. I was determined from the very beginning of this project to create a design which reflected this change in the mechanics of the car. This is what led to the sporty cab-forward profile rather than a car with a bonnet and an engine.” - Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

A vehicle with proportions this dynamic is only possible with a design that consciously exploits every millimetre given by Jaguar’s state-of-the-art electric drive system. Leveraging the technological possibilities of electric driving, the I-PACE Concept introduces big design changes and finds fresh expression for Jaguar’s premium, personal touches and British craftsmanship. Without an internal combustion engine and transmission tunnel to package, the I-PACE Concept’s design brings the cabin forward, extends the wheelbase and shortens the overhangs. This enables the silhouette to become more aerodynamic and the haunches to develop more powerful proportions. It also enlarges the interior space and improves vehicle dynamics and visibility.

As a result, the I-PACE Concept’s profile has more in common with the C-X75 mid-engine supercar than conventional SUVs. Evidence is clear in the cab-forward proportions, the dynamic heart line, the curve of the front fenders, the powerful proportions of the rear haunches and the large, purposeful wheels. And yet the I-PACE Concept’s overall footprint is as compact as conventional mid-sized SUVs’. The long, 2,990mm wheelbase creates a voluminous interior with a level of rear knee room usually only found in full-size SUVs and luxury saloons. 

Side View 

With its streamlined profile, sweeping lines, large wheels and muscular rear haunches, the I-PACE Concept represents a new generation of electric vehicles. Bringing together hallmarks of the Jaguar brand with new lines, made possible by the I-PACE Concept’s state-of-the-art electric powertrain, creates a dynamic aesthetic that expresses its performance, innovation and style.

Front View 

The I-PACE Concept exudes muscular performance. The low bonnet, flanked by curving wheel arches, combines sports car aesthetics with an SUV’s presence. A broad, distinctive grille with a hexagonal grid in gloss black retains a key element of Jaguar design DNA while also providing aerodynamic benefits. Airflow also passes through the C-X75-derived bonnet scoop, helping to reduce drag. Slimline full LED headlights with Jaguar’s signature Double-J daytime running light motif further emphasise the vehicle’s clean lines.

Rear View 

The sharp styling of the I-PACE Concept’s rear provides a clear indication of the vehicle’s dynamic potential and efficiency. A slender composite spoiler enhances the vehicle’s sporting character as well as reducing lift at higher speeds without generating drag. The fast-angled slope of the rear window is aerodynamic and uses an advanced hydrophobic glass coating to eliminate the visual clutter of a rear wiper. The line contrasts with the vehicle’s squared-off end and extended rear three-quarter that project power and improve efficiency.

Interior Design  

The five-seater I-PACE Concept is a clear statement of Jaguar’s plans for the production model with future-focused design pervading the open, spacious interior. It also showcases the blend of cutting-edge technologies and traditional materials that characterise Jaguar’s vision for electric luxury. Jaguar’s careful selection of high quality, natural materials and its high standards of craftsmanship bring a pervasive sense of luxury and sustainability.

With quotes from Ian Callum and images of ambassador David Gandy we look at Jaguar's I-Pace Concept Electric Performance SUV.