The Jaguar i-Pace Electric SUV is the most SIGNIFICANT concept of 2017

Ian Callum’s Jaguar i-Pace Electric SUV is the most SIGNIFICANT concept of 2017

The Jaguar i-Pace – the unique electric SUV from Jaguar – has been named the most significant concept of 2017 at the North American Concept Vehicle Awards.

The Jaguar i-Pace, Jaguar’s electric SUV, may only be a concept at the moment, but it’s already stacking up awards, here from the 16th North American Concept Vehicle Awards held at the Concours d’Elegance of America.

Not only that, but it also won the Production Preview Concept of the Year award too as the jury of 214 declared the i-Pace the winner out of 24 cars introduced across the Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and New York Motor Shows.

One of the judges declared the i-Pace “Landmark Technology” and another that “…the I-PACE Concept presents the new direction”. And they’re not wrong.

But the Jaguar i-Pace represents more than just stunning design and technology from JLR, it also heralds a sea-change in electric cars – and a big warning sign for Tesla.

Real car makers like Jaguar have poured fortunes in to playing catch-up with Tesla, and now they’re on the cusp of reaping those rewards with electric cars which will take Tesla on – and win.

The man who conceived the i-Pace – Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart – has already declared the Jaguar i-Pace a Tesla beater, and he’s not wrong.

But it’s not just the Jaguar i-Pace, but cars like the Porsche Mission E and Audi Q6 EV (or whatever Audi are now calling it) which should really scare the life out of Tesla.

After all, when offered technology which is comparable – and potentially better – how many, other than Tesla zealots, would choose a computer on wheels when they could have a real car with real soul, real history and real dynamics?

So well done Jaguar on the i-Pace. We may have said it looked a bit odd when it arrived, but the technology has made us change our minds, and now we find it an appealing, 21st century take on Jaguar.