Jack Whitehall launches new electric Jaguar I-Pace with a race against the Tesla Model X
JAGUAR’S first ever electric car has finally been revealed with a little help from Jack Whitehall.
The British comedian presented the glitzy launch of the £63,000 I-Pace as the first SUV rolled off the production line.
Whitehall, 29, was joined by TV presenter Jonny Smith and US tech guru iJustine for the live event where the first model appeared from the state-of-the-art Austrian factory.
The Brits host – a notoriously bad driver – had previously got a glimpse of the incredible tech on-board with a little help from two nine-year-olds – although he looked a little bit lost by all the gadgets.
The launch also demonstrated the incredible performance of the I-Pace as it was pitted against two Tesla Model Xs in a 0-60mph and back to zero challenge in footage from Mexico City.
The electric Jag topped its US rival thanks to a 0-60mph time of just 4.5 seconds, its twin 394bhp motors and powerful brakes.
The much-anticipated model has gone through 200 prototypes, been tested by 500 engineers, driven 1.5million miles and endured 11,000 hours of machine testing.
As Jaguar’s first ever electric car it doesn’t come cheap with prices starting from £63,495.
But that gets you some seriously impressive kit, including a 298-mile battery that’ll charge to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes on one of the ultra-fast chargers being rolled out across the UK.
Use a standard charger and it’ll take the less impressive time of 10 hours.
But there’s more, the clever I-Pace will also load personal settings to give you an accurate range based on how you drive.
Cautious Carols will get extra miles over their heavy-footed companions – so get ready to battle it out with your partner for eco-supremacy.
Other personal preferences like temperature, music and seat position are also saved by the I-Pace’s artificial intelligence so it can set the car up when it senses your key approaching.
The I-Pace is also fitted with Amazon Alexa so you can ask any Alexa device for information about the car that’s stored in Jaguar’s remote app.
That includes if the car is locked, what the charging status is and if you have enough range to get to work.
It’ll also remind you if you forget your phone in the car, suggest contacts to call, pre-heat your car before the morning commute and even control your home’s heating, lights and doors.
In a Jaguar first, there’s also over-the-air wireless software updates so owners will get the latest tech without having to visit a dealer.
The new car is on sale right now with several trim levels depending on how much you’re willing to spend.
Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Where other companies talk about the future, we build it.
“We have torn up the rule book to create the newest member of the Pace family, the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace.
“With zero tailpipe emissions, no CO2 and no particulates, it moves us dramatically closer to our vision of a clean, safe and sustainable future.”