Jaguar finally unveiled the production version of the I-Pace, its first all-electric vehicle today. You can learn all about in our article here.
For the occasion, the company also compared the new electric SUV with Tesla’s Model X in an *interesting* drag race video.
First off, they probably shouldn’t compare their I-Pace with the Model X in the first place.
The I-Pace is a significantly smaller SUV than the Model X – arguably in a different category: 4,680 mm length versus 5,037 mm, 1,560 mm height versus 1,684 mm, and 2,139 mm versus 2,271 mm.
But they are currently the two only all-electric SUV (the Audi e-tron quattro is coming though) so they apparently insist on comparing it with the Model X with a video about it – with a focus on acceleration.
You can watch the video here and further down I share some thoughts about the comparison:
Electrek’s Take
First off, let me reiterate that I don’t think they should compare it to the Model X. Again because of the size, but also because I think they should compare it to gas-powered cars and instead to try to steal market share from them and not other EVs.
That’s the goal after all, to have EVs replace gas-powered cars and convert more petrolheads to electric propulsion.
In my opinion, EVs should compete against gas-powered cars first and EVs second. But I don’t expect legacy automakers to get on board with that at this point in the game, so let’s look at the actual comparison.
They first raced the I-Pace versus the Model X 75D. The vehicles officially have 0-60 mph times of 4.5 and 4.9 seconds respectively.
OK, that’s fair. The I-Pace likely beat the Model X fair and square – even though it should be pointed out that the Model X 75D is much bigger and therefore, an acceleration comparison is not the most adequate.
But then they did something really weird, the driver of the Model X came out and said he should get a Model X “P100D” instead.
With a 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, a P100D would obviously crush the I-Pace, but then what they did instead was the ol’ switcheroo – bring out a Model X “100D” (no P), which is sure to confuse a few people, present company included.
The 100D has an advertised 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds – about the same as the I-Pace, but the Jaguar, sure enough, beat the Model X. Maybe that braking helped.
I’d be curious to see a few more launches against those vehicles because some Model X 75D and 100D owners have been getting some really impressive times since Tesla uncorked the full power in those SUVs a few months ago.
With this said, I’m not taking away anything from the I-Pace. I can’t wait to try it. I just think they should have pinned it against a similar size/category gas-powered SUV instead of a bigger electric vehicle.
