Auto Channel Exclusive: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HSE by David Colman +VIDEO

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

The following is an Auto Channel Green Wheels Report; relevant content for car shoppers and auto enthusiasts concerned with alt-fuels, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel-cells and saving our planet by reducing exhaust emissions

Jaguar I-Pace: We can promise you the driving experience of a lifetime

By David Colman
Special Correspondent to The Auto Channel

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

When you mat the throttle in this Jag, you forget about range anxiety. You forget about being green and saving the planet from fossil burners. In fact, you forget about pretty much everything but keeping the indecently fast I-Pace pointed in the right direction, because things happen right quick inside this cockpit. 0-60mph takes just 4.5 seconds. The electric Jag is an absolute bomb on a backroad, a blast to drive. Even with optional 22 inch rims, it still generates tons of suspension travel. Ultra-quick steering reflexes, great tire grip and an explosive pair of electric motors will rocket you past slower traffic in an eye blink. And if you're lucky enough to be the commander of an I-pace, all traffic is slower.

Base price on this beauty starts at $80,500. Our Indus Silver test sample carried enough pricey options to boost the final sticker to $93,630. Chief among those additions was $4,390 for the Carbon Fiber Exterior Pack. If you love the lustrous beauty of carbon fiber's clear coated weave, you will definitely want to check this box on your order form. The "pack" consists of thin CF trim strips running the width of the front and rear fascias, sizeable side panels emblazoned with "Jaguar" notations, and fat-cased CF side mirror housings. The $1,300 optional "5069 Gloss Black" 22 inch, 5-spoke rims are a sensational bargain at this price, since you would probably spend $1,300 for just one such rim - let alone four - in the aftermarket. These rollers are further enhanced by wide carbon fiber spoke inserts that key perfectly with that optional exterior package.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

The cockpit of the I-Pace looks other worldly. Our sample featured "Dapple Grey Premium Textile Seats," a no-cost choice that lends the interior a subdued and businesslike charm. The grippy, denim-like textile material Jaguar has chosen perfectly complements the $575 Indus Grey exterior paint. Further lavish carbon fiber application keynotes the interior, with upper dashboard panels, and front door cards done in the material. The steering wheels rim is covered with tactile grey suede cloth as is the top of the instrument binnacle. An optional $800 "Ebony Suede Cloth Headliner" completes the interior's optional refinement. The I-Pace roof is almost completely made of dark tinted glass which bathes the interior in subtle light, albeit at the cost of a fishbowl like transparency.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

Those massive alloy rims carry 255/40R22 Pirelli P Zero tires which have a treadwear rating of TW 280 and a Traction Rating of AA. Their inherent stickiness produces a ton of cornering grip but the low TW number suggests that replacement will come sooner rather than later unless you drive very sedately. However, sedate is not really an option of choice with this Jag, because it is constantly beckoning you to mash the throttle, twitch the steering wheel, and hang on as the superlative chassis dispatches straights and curves alike in an instant. Perhaps my enthusiastic driving style explains why I managed to halve the I-Pace's suggested range. When the test vehicle was initially dropped off, its range estimate read 190 miles, with a battery charge at 90 percent. Jaguar claims a full charge will yield a range of 240 miles. In our first drive of 50 miles, that estimated range figure dropped from 190 to 90 miles. By the end of our 5 day stay in the Jag, we had covered just 80 miles according to the odometer. But estimated range had dropped from 190 to 54 - a difference of 136 miles. So be very wary of that range figure.

In order to continue to drive the I-Pace, which was showing a 50% charge after that first 50 mile outing, we decided to plug it in at home - since we live in the sticks with no Charge Point station closer than 30 miles. Verdict: Kids, don't try this at home. First of all, the Owner's Manual is pretty much useless when it comes to home recharging. Granted our test I-Pace carried a recharger labeled "Prototype." When we plugged it into our garage outlet, the dash display read "Initializing" but nothing else seemed to happen. When we attempted to remove the plug-in cord from the Jag, the plug would not release from the vehicle. After a half hour of pleading and incantations, we finally stumbled on a solution: lock then unlock the doors! This critical information is not mentioned in the Owner's Manual. So we re-plugged the I-Pace and retired for the night. After what should have been a 14 hour charge we were stunned to find that absolutely no recharge had transpired. But the "Prototype" charger had managed to trip the circuit breakers in the garage - which in turn led to another set of organizational problems.

So our test of the Jag was disappointingly confined to a romp of just 80 miles. But we can promise you that if you live near a Charge Point station or install a dedicated fast charge line at your house, you will be in for the driving experience of a lifetime. Back when I owned 2 different XK-Es in the 1960s, we always called them E Jags. Now that Jag has introduced this Electric-Type, let's rechristen the I-Pace as the E-Jag of a brave new era.

2019 JAGUAR I-PACE EV400 HSE

HYPES: Gorgeous Finish, Carbon Fiber Lover's Delight

GRIPES: Not Ready for Primetime Home Charging

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10