Jaguar is all set to jump on to the pure electric vehicle bandwagon with the new all-electric version of the F-Pace that is likely to be named the E-Pace.
Autocar reported the E-pace will be unveiled by the end of this year itself before a formal launch slated for around 2018.
Sporting looks similar to the F-Pace, the new E-Pace will, however, have a few unique features which include a 'slightly lower roofline and even more dynamic styling.' The new E-Pace will also be slightly smaller than the F-Pace.
The E-Pace is also believed to be sitting atop the new Jaguar Land Rover EV platform that was launched last year. The platform is essentially made of aluminium and will also underpin JLR's new range of electric vehicles, including the Range Rover EV due out soon.
Further imparting strength and rigidity to the platform would be the lithium-ion battery pack which would be accommodated along the bottom, much like on Tesla vehicles. The same layout also ensures most of the weight is distributed along the bottom, thus allowing for greater stability of the vehicle as well.
Providing the juice would be a 70 kWh battery, though larger capacity batteries to provide for around 280 to 300 miles of range haven't been ruled out either. There would be two electric motors sitting on top of the front and rear axles each producing 114 and 195 bhp respectively.
Power is transmitted to the front set of wheels through a single speed transmission. The rear wheel gets the power via a two-speed ZF gearbox, Autocar further revealed. The ZF gearbox again happens to be the modified version of the same used on the BMW i8.
Jaguar meanwhile stated they have achieved breakthrough engineering with their Electric Axle Drive (EAD) which they claim to not only last 30 percent longer than conventional units, but are also 60 percent cheaper to manufacture. The JLR-built EAD has aluminium winding instead of copper to cut costs and does not use rare earth magnets.
However, as Electrek mentioned, there is no word yet if the new E-Pace will also have self-driving technology built-in to it.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?