Jaguar I-PACE is the Electrified Future We All Deserve
Driving the I-PACE
Jaguar’s engineers gave a briefing before we were all let loose, and of all the talking points they mentioned – mind speed limits, don’t get arrested, etc., the thing that stuck in my mind was brake regen. Like most E.V.s, the Jaguar I-PACE utilizes regenerative braking, which converts the kinetic energy generated during braking into usable energy that charges the batteries. In the vehicle settings tab on the TouchPro Duo screen, the regen can be configured to the driver’s preference, from low to high.
With ‘low’ regenerative braking, lifting off the accelerator results in a gentle tug at forward momentum as the car scavenges that energy for the battery. Opening the regenerative braking menu and swiping over to ‘high’ is when things get interesting. Set on high, the brake regen is aggressive, and will actually slow the vehicle to a complete halt at low speed. Jaguar refers to this as ‘one-pedal driving,’ and it makes for an excellent around town driving experience. Tesla does something similar in it’s vehicles, and it makes commuting and traffic that much less stressful. The overall effect is that in day-to-day driving, you will rarely need to use the brake pedal, at all. Not only is this driver convenience, but it also improves range, it’s a win-win.
Additionally, around town, the I-PACE offers near silence and a level of driving serenity that few internal combustion alternatives can match. The optional 22-inch wheels provide excellent road feel at the expense of some ride comfort, though, it never approaches jarring, nor any level of discomfort.
On the open road
On the freeways, the I-PACE is equally comfortable, and quiet. Jaguar says that the interior has been designed to dampen specific frequencies, like noise canceling headphones. I would say the effect is pronounced, except it isn’t. I can almost hear myself think in here. This is a level of sedate luxury not unlike a long wheelbase XJ, which is high praise. There is some mild tire roar, but, again, blame the shiny 22-inch rollers for that. 18 and 20-inch wheels are also available, which seem to improve the ride quality and road noise.
Speaking of roar, let’s talk about noise. When people think of Jaguar, modern icons like the F-TYPE come to mind. The F-TYPE, and especially the insane R and SVR variants, produces one of the most brutally satisfying exhaust notes out there. What about an electric car? There isn’t much noise to speak of. Fortunately, Jaguar is, again, one step ahead and has the sound figured out. The brand worked with Hollywood sound engineers to create a sound for the I-PACE.
The near silence I have been reporting on is a result of the ‘calm’ interior sound mode. Swiping over to ‘Dynamic’ reveals an entirely new character to the I-PACE. Everyone has a different way to explain the sound, but I can best liken it to the flying cars in The Jetsons. It’s wild, and oddly endearing, especially for someone, like myself, who is accustomed to blaring exhaust notes and screaming engines. Though, according to a Jaguar engineer, in order to get the full experience, the drive mode selector also has to be in ‘Dynamic.’ I can confirm, it cranks up the intensity by an extra 25% or so.
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