Wolfgang Ziebart’s name probably doesn’t ring a bell to you, but he’s well-known and just as well-respected in the automotive industry. After an extended stint at a German automaker and a tenure as CEO of a major microchip manufacturer, he took on a new and unexpected challenge: to develop the Jaguar brand’s first all-electric SUV. How’d it turn out? Ziebart calls it “the most exciting project I’ve worked on.” We’ll all be sharing in the excitement before long; the Jaguar I-PACE arrives at Jaguar Peabody soon.

What’s interesting and highly fitting is the speed with which this new SUV is arriving. Four years ago, Jaguar CEO Ralf Speth ordered development of a new all-electric SUV. The concept made its way to auto shows two years later, and it’ll arrive in showrooms just two years after that. For the auto industry, which typically moves at a snail’s pace, that’s nothing short of shocking.

That speed is making itself known in other ways as well. The upcoming debut of the new Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY, a racing-spec version of the Jaguar I-PACE, is newsworthy because it’s not often that you see an all-electric crossover done up as a racecar. It’s also newsworthy for what it has to say about the crossover’s future. Because this particular model was developed in part by Jaguar SVO (Special Vehicle Operations), it’s highly likely that it’s a sneak preview of sorts. In other words, expect an SVR variant of the Jaguar I-PACE in the near future.

We weren’t surprised that the Jaguar F-PACE turned the industry on its ear. We’re expecting big things for the new Jaguar E-PACE, too. But we’re especially excited about the Jaguar I-PACE. After a late start in the luxury SUV game, the company is making up for lost time with a vengeance. It hasn’t taken long for the tables to turn — now it’s the rest of the industry’s turn to play catch-up.

To find out more about the Jaguar I-PACE, or to reserve yours, visit Jaguar Peabody at 247 Newbury St. today.