Jaguar’s new electric vehicle is the beginning of new opportunities for the company. 

MotorWeek was there when the British auto maker unveiled the I-PACE in Los Angeles last week.  It’s the first electric vehicle for the company, but probably won’t be the last.

 

CEO Ralf Speth told Automotive News as many as half of Jaguar Land Rover's lineup will be hybrids or electric vehicles by 2020. 

He pointed out electric vehicles present a big challenge, telling Automotive News the development cost of an EV is 2.5 times higher than that of a combustion vehicle.  The I-PACE is built on Jaguar’s new EV platform.  Technical Design Director of Product Development Wolfgang Ziebart told Automotive News, "the platform can either be stretched or compacted, so it is a good platform for other vehicles." 


Automotive News reports Zeibart and Speth both say the U.S. will be an important market for the I-PACE.  The Jaguar I-PACE has two electric motors, one at each axle, producing a total of 400 horsepower. 


The I-PACE is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in 2018.