Jaguar I-Pace SVR Would Focus On Handling, Not Straight-Line Speed

Jaguar is considering adding new derivatives of the electric I-Pace SUV, including a high-performance SVR version.

Jaguar Land Rover officials point out that such a version would not focus on offering a headline-grabbing 0-60 time alone, but a properly engineered model with class-leading handling.

“We have asked ourselves how you would ‘SVR’ an electric car,” said product planning boss Hanno Kirner to Autocar. “Yes, we can make it do 0-60mph in 1.8sec. It’s a good headline, but once you’ve done it once or twice, and lost your eyes in the back of their sockets, you might not want to do it again.”

Kimer added that the regular I-Pace’s 50/50 weight distribution and dynamic chassis setup could be taken as indications of what can be done with future versions but also cautioned that an electric powertrain would need to be treated with respect.

“You also have to make sure you can’t go too fast,” he said. “I do worry that the instant torque and performance might be too much for untrained drivers. It may be that we have to impose some kind of restriction, so that the performance is limited until they have gone on a driving course or something.”

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However Kimmer didn’t confirm a high-performance version and tried to stress that the electric SUV could be labeled an SVR (performance), SVX (off-road) or SVA (luxury). “There is probably more than one route we could take,”he said. “But there is definitely space for a performance electric car or cars.”

That being said, an I-Pace SVR is the most probable option, as it ties with the one-make I-Pace e-Trophy racing series.