By now I’m sure everyone is aware of the Government’s proposed plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2040.

Leaked reports appear to show that many of the current crop of hybrid cars, like the best-selling Toyota Prius will be caught in the ban. The ‘Road to Zero’ policy is expected to outlaw the sale of any hybrid cars from 2040 incapable of covering 50 miles using only electric power.

With additional pressure being placed on ministers to bring the deadline forward to 2030, car manufacturers are investing a serious amount of time, money and resources into creating an electric model that combines performance with style.

Since the popularity of electric vehicles boomed, we have seen Tesla lead the way in terms of sales, with the Tesla Model 3 recently becoming America’s best-selling electric car.

This dominance from Tesla within the electric car market has not been significantly tested, and although we have seen a number of other high-profile manufacturers develop their own electric models, none have enjoyed the same level of success or popularity as Tesla.

With that being said, we’re still very much in the early stages of electric car development and as the 2040 deadline slowly approaches, you can be certain that many of the world’s biggest car manufacturers will begin revealing their own all-electric models.

One such model is the Jaguar I-Pace, which we were fortunate enough to see for the very first time this week at our Leigh-on-Sea facility.

The I-Pace, which officially comes on sale in summer 2018, has everything you can think of when imagining a stylish electric vehicle, boasting all the characteristics needed to make it a serious competitor to the existing Tesla models.

Combining two fast-growing sectors of the car market, the I-Pace blends the electric car and the SUV perfectly, with two electric motors producing an incredible 395bhp – enough to get the car from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds.

One of the biggest things holding back electric cars is range anxiety. The I-Pace addresses this with a near-300-mile range between charges and is fitted with a new EV Navigation system that calculates the remaining range as accurately as possible.

Now, here at Borough we’re known for our chrome plated plastic, so excuse us for automatically being drawn to the quality of the finish on the interior and exterior chrome components.

Designed with sleek-looking interior, the I-Pace features a central touchscreen monitor surrounded by, beautifully finished chrome plating, complimenting the darker dashboard interior while accentuating the modern elements of the car.

The same high-quality chrome finish is used across the door panels and air vents, creating a stylish consistency throughout the vehicle, that reflects the car’s sophistication in terms of technology and performance.

The I-Pace oozes class as it subtly brings the dark and metallic colours together to create a beautiful vehicle worthy of its £60,000 price tag.

From a practical perspective, the shape of the car provides significant boot storage space, and the curved roof optimises passenger comfort, allowing enough room for passengers to move freely when travelling long distances.

The I-Pace that visited our offices had a black exterior, matching the colour scheme from inside the vehicle and reflecting the subtle beauty that Jaguar has tried to achieve with its new electric model.

Combining high level vehicle performance with an aesthetically pleasing interior/exterior, the Jaguar I-Pace is a great benchmark for the future of electric vehicles, and an example of how Tesla’s current dominance will be challenged by the established brands.