DRIVING
JAGUAR IS A COMPANY that I asso-
ciate with charismatic gasoline
engines—big straight sixes and V-12s in the
classic Jags, snarling V-6s and V-8s now.
Jaguars roar, right?
Not the I-Pace, which is powered by a pair
of electric motors that together generate 394
horsepower and send the handsome cross-
over-ish hatchback to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.40 April 2019 _ PopularMechanics.comILLUSTRATIONS^ BY^ULISES^FARINASBUICK ENCORE
AWD
Sold nearly
100,000 last
year.↓ROAD TESTED
/BY EZRA DYER/VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
GTI 2.0T SE
First ballot hot
hatch HOF.Base price: $62,995, after
the $7,500 tax credit
Like Teslas, the I-Pace has
a frunk: It’s about the size of
your fifth-grade lunch box.
Also under the hood: An
emergency-release cable
for the charge-port lock, in
case a charger won’t let go
of your I-PaceWith a 90-kWh battery, the I-Pace offers 234
miles of range, which points to some serious
electron-guzzling. I suppose that, like its
internal-combustion Jaguar stablemates,
the I-Pace prioritizes looks and perfor-
mance over ultimate efficiency. Fair enough.
I’d bet most buyers would rather have big
wheels and some curves in the bodywork
than a half-dissolved Werther’s OriginalFORD F-150
LIMITED
So fast.
450 horses.
$69K.The First Real
Tesla Fighter
rolling on bicycle tires. There are some obvi-
ous nods to aero efficiency, though. Like on
the Tesla Model S, the I-Pace’s door handles
motor out of the bodywork when you need
them, but recede flush when you’re moving.
Fun fact: The classic Jaguar hood orna-
ment is called the “Leaper.” That’s also a
good term for the I-Pace, which represents
an abrupt jump in the narrative for a car
company that, until recently, was wedded
to nostalgia. But 512 lb-ft of instant torque
is enough to convince you that a new kind
of glory days is just getting started.The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is the
unlikeliest electric contender.