Updates: Where Have You Been?

The Polite Sleight of Hand

Although there are exceptions like mentioned earlier, I don’t really have a luxury vehicle interest in general. While knowing this, my buddy/co-conspirator and EV aficionado who was here at the show convinced me to check out the latest in EV tech from Jaguar. I-Pace is just another quasi-SUV to me and I wasn’t keen on test driving yet another crossover, BUT Jaguar competed with this vehicle model in the Formula E; that got my attention. Later, I found out that they established another class of racing called the eTROPHY Championship that will follow the actual FIA-sanctioned Formula E racing series that exclusively uses the somewhat portly I-Pace. I’m not making up the portly, check out the specs. The reality was that they have an actual Formula-E vehicle that plays at the main event while this thing is the cover band. A fat Paul McCartney look-alike.
Unfortunately, there was another “polite” bait-n-switch orchestrated by Jag. In order to test drive (or ride shotgun in my case) in the Jag, you have to do the Land Rover test drive first.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m reluctantly fussing over, but to reiterate:

• Not a fan of crossovers
• Not eager drive around in luxury

And what did they do? … Put me in a luxury crossover.

Well, I [we] did get free Starbucks coffee and a complimentary cap out of it. So, I should stop pouting over riding in a 6-figure vehicle.

To say that this SUV is loaded with tech would be a major understatement. In my next lifetime (if there is such), I would love to come back as a British aristocrat with several hundred acres of country estate and several hounds so I can fully utilize the electronic traction controls, auto-sensing electronic differentials, terrain controls, and so forth to go game hunting. Or at least that’s what I pictured riding in the back seat sipping Starbucks (mentally aware not to spill a drop) while the rep goes in great detail all of the functions of this modern day chariot. In the end, I didn’t get to ride in the Jag electric crossover because I ran out time.

But, man, come on… no one likes a sleight of hand.