An SVR version of Jaguar's I-Pace electric crossover is a
done deal, Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations boss said, confirming plans that
have been an open secret for more than a year.
There is no
official timeline for a release just yet, SVO head Michael van der Sande
told Autocar, but he described the project is a "when, not if."
SVO was responsible for development and production of
the I-Pace Trophy race cars, which van der Sande says has given
the team a lot of insight into how to build a higher-performance variant of the
road-going I-Pace.
"(T)hey've taught us a lot," van der Sande said.
"We’ve already learned plenty about battery management, heat management
and software development that could be useful for road cars. When the call
comes, we’ll be ready."
The electric crossover is plenty potent as it sits. With 394
horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque, it offers plenty of punch in stock
form, and can hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Obviously, an SVR version would
be even quicker.
In fact, Hanno Kirner, Jaguar's VP of product
planning, hinted last year that it would be possible for an I-Pace SVR to reach 60 mph in 1.8
seconds, which he admitted would probably be a bit over-the-top.
He even suggested that an I-Pace SVR might need some sort of
performance-governing software to keep inexperienced drivers from being caught
unaware by its capabilities.
Jaguar is also interested in building other variants of the I-Pace. A
more luxurious model is on the radar, as is something with more serious
off-road chops. Both offer the potential for development overlap with sister
brand Land Rover.
by Byron Hurd
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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