There are a lot of things that one can imagine a futuristic society might have, but no trope is referenced quite as much as the flying car. When we were kids, we cast our minds towards the year 2023, shows like Futurama and The Jetsons forming the blueprint for how things might look. Naturally, now that we are in 2023, our inner child might be a little disappointed that we don't have robot maids (although we're likely not far off) and airborne tunnels for our hover cars, but with the growing market for electric, battery powered vehicles, this reality suddenly feels much closer. There is something about getting into an electric car that feels almost totally different to one that is petrol run, and last week, on a race track in Western Sydney, Jaguar showcased exactly why that is to celebrate the world’s first all-electric touring car, the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY.
The day consisted of getting to know two vehicles, the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY, of which there are only 20 available in the world, and the Jaguar I-PACE, Jaguar's all-electric performance SUV.
The feeling of the Jaguar I-PACE is not so different to being in an actual hover car (I can only assume). The first thing you notice about the vehicle, upon sitting in the driver's seat, is that it is almost completely silent. The second, is that it feels incredibly stable and safe, and as we made our way around the track, this was proven. The steering is precise, the ride is smooth, and even on the sharpest of turns and toughest of breaks it stands up to the conditions, making light work of the ground it covers. The brand applies its electric vehicle know-how to the Jaguar I-PACE with the latest technology, the effortless balance of all-wheel drive performance, refinement, agility and modern luxury design qualities to offer a vehicle that feels both impressive from a performance perspective, and secure for everyday travel. From years of expertise in Jaguar's electric racing series, Jaguar's reputation for performance, technology and design was forged within the world's most challenging circuits and championships, and when applied to an everyday car like the I-PACE, a true sense of luxury is offered.
Motorsport is very much a part of Jaguar’s DNA, and the I-PACE eTROPHY is now part of this racing heritage and electrified future. In 2016, Jaguar was the first premium car manufacturer to join the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With the world’s first all‐electric production-based international race series, Jaguar made history again. As the main support series to Formula E for seasons five and six (2018 and 2019), the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY series reinforced its commitment to electric vehicles. The I-Pace eTrophy race car was built by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and developed from the road-going Jaguar I-Pace. Both the road going and racing versions of the I-Pace benefit from electric drive technology developed as part of Jaguar Racing's I-TYPE Formula E program. The race car was built by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and developed from the road-going Jaguar I-Pace.
In 2021, Jaguar Land Rover announced an aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions across the brands supply chain, products and operations by 2039 through their Reimagine strategy. Central to this strategy is the electrification of both the Land Rover and Jaguar brands, with all nameplates becoming available in pure electric form by the end of the decade.
