The past few years have been full of hype and promises from established automakers about taking on Tesla with high-end electric cars. Now, Jaguar is putting its money where its mouth is. But can the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace SUV usher in a new era for this storied automaker?
Despite its revolutionary status as Jaguar’s first all-electric production model, the I-Pace should look familiar by now. It’s based on a concept car that first appeared at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show and has made several outings since then. While many concept cars get watered down for production, that isn’t the case with the I-Pace. The production version maintains the concept’s sleek looks, flying in the face of traditional SUV boxiness.
The styling was made possible by the I-Pace’s electric powertrain, Jaguar said, which takes up less room than a traditional internal-combustion engine, transmission, and drivetrain. That is something Tesla is already familiar with and Jaguar learned to make the most of. The aluminum-intensive I-Pace sports a low-drag coefficient of 0.29 cd and, despite its low roofline, still offers passenger and cargo space comparable to more traditionally-styled SUVs, according to Jaguar.
The all-wheel drive I-Pace is powered by two electric motors, which produce a combined 394 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar claims that will get the I-Pace from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 124 mph. That makes the Jag quicker than all but the top-spec Tesla Model X P100D, although the Tesla boasts a slightly higher top speed across all variants.
A 90-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack mounted underneath the floor provides a claimed 240-mile range, just three miles more than the 75-kWh Model X 75D. Tesla also offers a 100-kWh battery pack good for 295 miles in the Model X 100D variant, and Audi is claiming around 300 miles of range for its upcoming e-tron electric SUV. The I-Pace can be equipped for DC fast charging, offering an 80 percent recharge in 40 minutes. Charging from an AC source will take substantially longer.
The electric powertrain may be new, but connectivity tech largely carries over from other Jaguar Land Rover models. The I-Pace uses the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system that debuted on the Range Rover Velar, including two touchscreens (10-inch upper screen, 5.5-inch lower screen) and a host of capacitive buttons and controls. Jaguar will offer an Amazon Alexa skill and its own app to allow owners to monitor charging and other vehicle functions. The I-Pace will also be the first Jaguar to use over-the-air software updates, and features a “Smart Settings” algorithm that “learns” driver preferences for in-car features.
The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace will start at $69,500 before federal, state, and local incentives. Deliveries will start in the second half of 2018 and Jaguar is planning a racing series around the I-Pace as well. When it arrives, the I-Pace will take on not only the Model X but also a host of new luxury electric cars including Audi’s e-tron and a forthcoming electric Mercedes.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.