Jaguar Unveils Type 01 EV, Sticking With Divisive Design

At the car's launch in New York, Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover said, "The person making this purchase will be choosing the car because it's a bold choice." He added that the model appeals to younger, richer buyers than Jaguar's current "men in their '50s" market, according to Engadget.

The Type 01 stays close to the Type 00 concept even though the concept's design chief was reportedly fired earlier this year, The Verge reported. It keeps a low-slung silhouette, a long bonnet, an extended side profile and, in The Verge's account, huge 23-inch wheels. The shift to a four-door layout makes those proportions feel more natural, according to The Verge. Engadget said the car is 17.1 feet long, a bit less than a Rolls-Royce Spectre, with a low roofline, stretched hood and curved fastback that give it the look of a 1940s Mercury coupe. The front and rear have slab-like profiles, ultra-thin LED projector headlights and full-width taillights hidden in the rear grating. There is no rear window, and Engadget noted, citing The Guardian, that the car is too long for a UK parking space. Cameras feed a screen instead. Engadget also reported a 37.7-foot turning circle, rear wheels that can turn up to six degrees and aerodynamic drag of 0.23 Cd with optional 21-inch wheels. The Verge noted that the hot Miami pink from the concept is not available.

Inside, Jaguar has used leather and brass detailing, according to The Verge. A 24-inch OLED display sits behind the steering wheel, while 7-inch smartphone-style screens are mounted in the central spine, one in front and one in the back, with controls for climate, audio and seats. Because there is no true rear window, another display rises out of the "panoramic soundbar" to show the feed from a rear-facing camera. TechRadar described a single piece of glass for the 24-inch OLED screen, a long central spine separating a two-plus-two seating layout and brass-inspired elements tied to Jaguar's "exuberant modernist" design philosophy. Engadget said the cabin remains minimalist, with a large central compartment dividing driver and passenger and few physical controls apart from a few on the steering wheel; most functions run through a 7-inch central console and the 24-inch touchscreen. Engadget also said the interior is not very spacious despite the car's size.

The Type 01 uses an 850-volt electrical architecture and a 118 kWh battery. Three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear, combine for up to 1,016 horsepower and 1,365 Nm of torque, The Verge reported; Engadget listed 1,007 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar says the car goes from 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and from 62-112 mph in a further 4.0 seconds. Range figures vary by source and testing standard. The Verge said the battery should deliver up to 400 miles of range. TechRadar said the car has a 400-mile EPA range and up to 320 miles at sustained highway speeds. Engadget said the WLTP range is 450 miles, about 385 miles under EPA, with up to 320 miles at sustained highway speeds. Using 350 kW DC charging, Jaguar says the car can add 200 miles of range in as little as 13 minutes, according to The Verge. Engadget reported a double-wishbone front and integral-link rear suspension with Dynamic Air Suspension, five drive modes named Jaguar, Dynamic, Efficient, Ice & Snow and Curated, and active aerodynamics including front vanes and a three-stage rear spoiler that can produce 165.3 pounds of downforce and lower the car 0.59 inches.

Jaguar says the Type 01 is a "copy of nothing," TechRadar reported, after a 2024 rebrand that drew criticism ranging from alienating traditional customers to going "woke." The design remains divisive. The BBC reported that some in the luxury car consultancy business called it an "unmitigated catastrophe," while former Head of Audi's Concept Design Studio Steve Lewis told AR Online that the Type 01 lacks consistency and "just seems unfinished," according to TechRadar. TechRadar said the internet is still torn over the production car.

The Type 01 arrives as luxury electric vehicle sales remain difficult. TechRadar reported that Porsche Taycan deliveries were down 22% in the first half of this year, Audi has seen a similar decline in its e-tron GT model, Rolls-Royce Spectre has reportedly seen a downturn in interest from ultra-wealthy buyers, and BMW's i7 shows a mixed picture across markets. Residual values remain an issue in the EV sector, with luxury vehicles seeing particularly steep used-market declines, TechRadar said. Jaguar is expected to reveal more cars on its new electric platform, including more conventional SUVs, and TechRadar described the Type 01 as a halo model meant to generate attention for the brand's new direction.