And From The Looks Of It

Brabham has just revealed its new supercar, the BT62. And from the looks of it, it's pretty typical modern supercar design. There are all manner of cavities from scoops to vents, channels to grilles. It's a very swoopy, curvy design that almost looks like a Lamborghini from a world where the company focused on curves instead of angles. Inside looks very purposeful but well crafted. Everything is in carbon fiber, and the seats are incredibly close together. Ahead of the racing-style steering wheel, complete with all sorts of knobs and buttons, is a screen for instruments, and in the center stack is a screen for other funtions. Under the carbon fiber skin is a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 making 700 horsepower and 492 pound-feet of torque. That engine sounds pretty remarkable, too, based on the sound sample the company released earlier. It's paired to a six-speed sequential transmission, and it powers the rear wheels exclusively. An enormous rear wing is capable of providing 2,646 pounds of downforce, which is over 500 pounds more than the car's weight of 2,143 pounds. Stopping the featherweight supercar are disc brakes with six-piston calipers at all four corners. 1.4 million. The first 35 will wear color schemes based on race-winning Brabhams of the past. New owners will get training on how to drive it, and deliveries begin later this year.

Conceived as a high-performance EV from the outset, the I-PACE delivers engaging driving dynamics, everyday usability and comfort, with a unique balance of ride, refinement and control. Jaguar has placed the battery as low as possible between the axles, providing close to optimal 50:50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity optimizing composure and reducing body roll. Advanced double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension deliver both incredible ride comfort and the lateral stiffness needed during dynamic driving, ensuring excellent handling, grip and steering responses. The compact and lightweight suspension design features aluminum suspension links and knuckles to reduce weight, while maximizing interior space. Standard air suspension with available Adaptive Dynamics featuring continuously variable shock absorbers also give the I-PACE true sporting agility and balance4. The self-levelling system is designed to maintain the optimum suspension geometry even when the vehicle is fully loaded and lower the vehicle when at speed to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.

As a result, occupants enjoy supreme comfort as the suspension provides a combination of bump absorption and body control that feels calm and natural in a variety of conditions. Jaguar engineers have utilized an electric brake booster on the I-PACE instead of a conventional brake vacuum servo. This gives the brake system more flexibility when blending regenerative and traditional mechanical braking, providing consistent and precise pedal feel in various conditions. The I-PACE also enables the driver to select either high or low levels of regenerative braking to assist in maximizing efficiency and optimizing vehicle range. When high regenerative braking mode is selected the driver can experience single-pedal driving in certain conditions as the car decelerates when lifting off the accelerator; reducing reliance on the brake pedal when slowing down4. In fact, a maximum regenerative braking force of up to 0.4G is achievable in this mode. Similarly, in heavy traffic, the driver can turn off the vehicle鈥檚 creep to improve comfort. The driver can then slow the vehicle by easing off the accelerator pedal and may not need to use the brakes to hold the car stationary, even on an incline4.

Jaguar has engineered the I-PACE to perform in hot and cold climates, operating at temperatures as low as -40掳F. The low resistance of the pouch cells, the battery pack鈥檚 insulation and an advanced thermal management system work in harmony to ensure the I-PACE works to specification in a multitude of weather conditions. In moderate temperatures, the battery uses a cooling system to maximize energy efficiency. A refrigeration unit linked to the vehicle鈥檚 main air conditioning system activates only at higher temperatures to control cell temperatures and maximize the available power. In cold conditions, a heat pump helps to maintain optimum operating conditions for the cells and the interior. This is more efficient than conventional heaters because it uses energy from the outside of the vehicle and heat scavenged from the inverters and power electronics to heat the cabin, rather than relying solely on energy from the battery. 鈥淭he I-PACE is the first Jaguar to use artificial intelligence machine learning to create a better driving experience,鈥?said Peter Virk, Jaguar Land Rover Director of Connected Car and Future Technology.