Even writers from Detroit seem to like the I-Pace

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

As much trouble as Tesla had and is still having with Model 3...

Trouble ramping up to meet the overwhelming demand is a "problem" that most companies can only dream of having! I think most business managers and successful entrepreneurs would say "That's not a problem, it's an opportunity!"

...the pickup is magnitudes more complicated

I don't think it's at all more complicated in the engineering sense. It's true that there will be significantly greater demands on the limited amount of energy a BEV can carry, but that doesn't mean it's going to be harder or more complex to build a Tesla pickup. In fact, aiming at the high end of the market means Tesla will have a much easier time making a profit on its pickup than on the much more down-market Model 3.

...and the semi a magnitude past that.

Presumably you don't mean that literally. An order of magnitude more complex to engineer and build would make it impossible to produce commercially.

But certainly the economic case for the Tesla Semi Truck is very demanding, and in that sense the engineering is quite challenging. But Tesla has already made two prototypes, so presumably at this point it's merely a matter of tweaking what they've already produced, and examining all the parts for possible reduction in cost.

I do not believe that Tesla has done anything other then photo ops with the semi.

Fortunately, reality doesn't require our belief.

I sent Elon a Tweet saying to do a 3rd party verified full load road test across the USA, and he immediately blocked me on twitter. I was very nice, and respectful...

Hmmm, yes, we've seen plenty of examples of how very respectful you are not towards Elon. Good for him (or his staff) for recognizing immediately that you should be blocked!

It was rumored that they had water ballast tanks in the test trailer, with plumbing to dump the water while traveling.

Presumably you copied that from the same source you get most of your anti-Tesla FUD from. That's not a "rumor", it's just bull pucky.

Kenworth, which has a manufacturing plant here in Seattle is just the opposite, they call me to show me new projects.

Far be it from anyone to suggest you're just name dropping, but most people involved in such important projects have neither the time nor the motive to post online comments bashing a particular cutting-edge tech company to multiple internet forums on a daily basis.

They've got much better things to do. And much less negative, too.

​

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

WLTP data says I-Pace beats the Model X hot, cold, fast, and slow in wh/m...

Well, let's compare:

I-Pace curb weight: 4784 lbs

Tesla Model X 75D curb weight: 5185 lbs
Tesla Model X P100D curb weight: 5531 lbs

Yeah, the I-Pace, which is a smaller and lighter car than the Model X, uses less wh/mile. Jaguar's EV engineering would have to be pretty awful for the I-Pace not to be more energy efficient than the Model X. I suppose it's good that Jaguar's engineering isn't simply awful, but was anyone arguing that it is?

Why would this be news to anyone, let alone a topic of argument? Is there a real issue here? I submit there isn't; I submit there's just a tempest-in-a-teapot, a ginned up attempt at an issue, regarding the bizarre nature of Jaguar's publicity campaign comparing the 5-seat I-Pace to the 7-seat Model X, rather than the 5-seat Model S.

Yeah, the I-Pace is really good at off-roading, which the Model S is not, but then the Model X isn't built for off-roading either. Just because the I-Pace is described as a "compact SUV" and the MX is a crossover (the "X" in Model X refers to the "cross" in "crossover), that doesn't mean the cars are actually comparable in any meaningful way, other than both being BEVs.

The MX is aimed more at "soccer moms" and moms with infant children which they want to put in a "car seat" in the back of the car. That's why so many women drive the Model X. It's not aimed at off-roading, like the I-Pace; and the I-Pace isn't aimed at soccer moms. Of course the intended markets do overlap somewhat, but I submit they don't overlap as much as the markets for the MS and the I-Pace do.

The I-Pace has gotten excellent reviews, and I for one am very glad to see it added to the lineup of BEVs available for people to buy. But Jaguar's publicity campaign of trying to compare the I-Pace to the Tesla Model X... I think that's rather bizarre. Jaguar should let the I-Pace stand on its own; with all the very positive reviews it's gotten, it certainly should be able to!

So why does Jaguar insist on comparing it to a car which is a very poor comparison; more of a contrast than a comparison? That comes across to me as Jaguar, or at least its marketing department, having an inferiority complex regarding Tesla.

All just my opinion, of course. Curb weights are objective and factual; comparisons of the value and/or usefulness of different cars are not.

​

 

[bwilson4web]

Part of it appears to be EU pride that finally they have a street-level EV, one that isn't a supercar or racer, that can drag race with some Teslas. <grins>

Bob Wilson

 

[bwilson4web]

Late thought, this sounds like a car best leased:

1. First EV powered car by Tata-Jaguar
2. First model year for I-Pace
3. Jaguar reliability

If available, the I-Pace sounds like a good candidate for a lease instead of purchase. Service calls will help moderate the miles.

Bob Wilson

 

[David Green]

Late thought, this sounds like a car best leased:

1. First EV powered car by Tata-Jaguar
2. First model year for I-Pace
3. Jaguar reliability

If available, the I-Pace sounds like a good candidate for a lease instead of purchase. Service calls will help moderate the miles.

Bob Wilson

Thats certainly an option, but with the expensive test program, and proper validation I think first year might be the best to have. First year Volt was awesome(mine did not have any service visit of any kind in 3yr 28K miles), as were first year Bolts... Consumer reports said the first year Bolt is the most reliable GM vehicle, and the most reliable EV in their survey. I would say your post clearly qualifies as FUD... Don't forget, we own a Range Rover vehicle, it has not had an unscheduled service visit yet (it did have a power folding mirror replaced on another regularly scheduled visit).

 

[bwilson4web]

By the end of November, you'll be part of the last integration and test team, the customers. You'll have tested the 20% Trump tariff and I-Pace delivery schedule. In the absence of individual benchmarks, we should have EPA metrics. I'm sorry you won't contribute benchmarks but this is not uncommon.

The long range Tesla Model 3 and expanded SuperCharger network should be mature and available in 2020. Even if there is no SuperCharger at Fort Smith AR, today's long range Model 3 can make the Little Rock AR to Tulsa OK leg. The rest of my blood kin live along SuperCharger network routes so no problem.

By 2010, the Tesla backlog should be over and a Tesla Model 3, long-range, would be a practical replacement for our BMW i3-REx. Best of all, there may be used Model 3 long-range cars available at depreciated rates.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

3. Jaguar reliability

Does Jaguar have a poor rep for reliability? I've seen the I-Pace described as more of a Land Rover than an actual Jaguar. (Jaguar now owns the Land Rover brand... or at least they're both owned by the same company.) I thought Land Rovers were built pretty rugged, but of course rugged doesn't necessarily mean trouble-free, and I know very little about the brand.

​

 

[bwilson4web]

Someone I trust had mentioned 'reliability' but hadn't looked it up:

Does Jaguar have a poor rep for reliability? I've seen the I-Pace described as more of a Land Rover than an actual Jaguar. (Jaguar now owns the Land Rover brand... or at least they're both owned by the same company.) I thought Land Rovers were built pretty rugged, but of course rugged doesn't necessarily mean trouble-free, and I know very little about the brand.

Source: https://www.osv.ltd.uk/how-reliable-are-jaguar/

How reliable are Jaguar?

As we said, there was once a time when Jaguar was considered unreliable. And, this wasn’t actually too long ago. In fact, in 2014, the UK was placed at the bottom of the reliability table in a WarrantyDirect survey partly due to the low-reliability score of Jaguar. This survey was compiled to show the best nations for reliability, and the UK came last out of eight nations.

Jaguar also placed 29th in comparison to the automotive industry in terms of reliability, click here to discover where their competitors placed.
. . .​

In about a year and half, we may have Consumer Reports survey reports. Certainly in 2.5 years.

Bob Wilson