Jaguar Land Rover management earlier this year made a statement confirming that they will have an all electric vehicle range by the next decade.
Then just weeks ago we saw a brand new premium DC fast charger being installed at their flagship showroom and corporate office in Ara Damansara.
So, this can only mean that shiny new luxury electric vehicles with the Jaguar badge will be first to arrive in Malaysia. We are talking about the 2019 World Car Of The Year winner, the Jaguar I-Pace.
Meanwhile, Land Rover is already producing plug-in hybrid version of the Evoque and also Discovery Sport which will need fast charging.
Then there is the Range Rover Sport which will join its big brother Range Rover in offering an electric vehicle version by 2024, as the brand pursues its mission of offering 6 EVs on sale by 2026, and having 60 percent of its total sales coming from EVs by 2030.
Clean, smart and safe, the I-Pace delivers sustainable sports car performance, next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology and five-seat SUV practicality to place Jaguar at the forefront of the EV revolution.
With a state-of-the-art 90kWh Lithium-ion battery using 432 pouch cells, the I-Pace delivers a range of 480km (WLTP cycle). Owners will be able to achieve a 0-80 per cent battery charge in just 40 minutes using DC rapid charging (100kW). Home charging with an AC wall box (7kW) will achieve the same state of charge in just over ten hours which is ideal for overnight charging.
A suite of smart range-optimising technologies includes a battery pre-conditioning system: when plugged in the Jaguar I-Pace will automatically raise (or lower) the temperature of its battery to maximise range ahead of driving away.
Two Jaguar-designed electric motors, which feature driveshafts passing through the motors themselves for compactness which are placed at each axle, producing exceptional combined performance of 400PS and 696Nm, and all-wheel-drive, all-surface traction.
The high torque density and high-energy efficiency characteristics of the motors deliver sports car performance, launching the I-Pace from a standing start to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds. The instantaneous performance is matched with exceptional ride comfort and engaging driving dynamics.
The bespoke EV aluminium architecture uses advanced riveting and bonding technology to deliver a light, stiff body structure. Together with the structural battery pack, it has a torsional rigidity of 36kNm/degree – the highest of any Jaguar.
The battery is placed centrally between the two axles, and as low down as possible with a seal between the housing and the underfloor.
This location enables perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity: together with the advanced double wishbone front and Integral Link rear axle with (optional) air suspension and configurable Adaptive Dynamics, this delivers agile handling and outstanding ride comfort.
So, be patient and wait for the Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV to arrive in Malaysia…… before Hari Raya 2023 for sure.
