Jaguar unveils Type 01, its most powerful and advanced electric GT yet

NEW YORK: Jaguar is back, and this time it has brought more than a new cat to the road. Jaguar has unveiled the Jaguar Type 01, an all-electric four-door grand tourer that the brand describes as its most technically advanced, powerful and aerodynamic road car yet.

Unveiled in New York, Type 01 marks the first production model of Jaguar’s new era and is designed to establish a fresh identity for the British luxury marque. With a low roofline, long bonnet, short front overhang, extended rear overhang and 23-inch wheels, the GT takes a deliberately dramatic approach to electric luxury.

Jaguar says the model was developed from a blank sheet of paper under its new modernist design philosophy, with designers and engineers working together to preserve the original proportions while meeting the demands of an electric powertrain.

The result is a car that combines a sleek silhouette with significant performance. Type 01 uses a bespoke Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA) and tri-motor technology with intelligent torque vectoring. It produces up to 1,030PS and 1,365Nm of torque, making it the most powerful Jaguar road car to date.

It can accelerate from 0 to 62mph (0 to 100km/h) in 3.2 seconds, while Jaguar says it can accelerate from 62mph to 112mph (100km/h to 180km/h) in 4.0 seconds. The company says this rolling acceleration is intended to give drivers the feeling of having power in reserve rather than relying purely on outright launch performance.

The car also features a 50:50 weight distribution and two distinct driving characters, combining performance with what Jaguar describes as refined comfort. Development input from the double world championship-winning Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team was used to hone its driving characteristics.

Aerodynamics have been another major focus. Active vanes, a three-stage deployable rear spoiler and other airflow optimisation measures give Type 01 a claimed drag coefficient of 0.23, making it the most aerodynamic Jaguar engineered so far.

Underneath, an 850-volt electrical architecture is paired with a 118kWh usable battery. Jaguar expects Type 01 to deliver an EPA range of up to 400 miles, while sustained highway-speed range is expected to reach up to 320 miles at a steady 75mph.

Using a 350kW rapid DC charger, the company says the car can add up to 200 miles of range in as little as 13 minutes. Jaguar estimates that the battery will allow customers to complete up to 99.7 per cent of journeys without interruption when cruising at a constant 75mph, although real-world performance will vary.

Inside, the four-door GT gets a cabin divided into four individual spaces by a central spine running through its length. Brass-effect anodised aluminium finishers reinforce the cabin’s longitudinal design, while Jaguar has opted for a minimalist but technology-heavy dashboard.

A single 24-inch OLED screen serves as the interactive driver display, while a separate seven-inch touchscreen positioned between the driver and front passenger provides access to key functions.

The audio experience is equally ambitious. Type 01 features Jaguar’s Immersive Sound System, including Sensory Audio seats and a full-width, full-range Panoramic Soundbar, which Jaguar describes as an automotive first.

The engineering behind the car is also intended to set it apart. Jaguar says Type 01 has generated more than 360 patent applications, reflecting the amount of new technology developed for its bespoke electric architecture.

Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover said: “From its dramatic design to its captivating drive, Type 01 distils the essence of Jaguar into a car for a new era. Jaguars should be objects of desire and culturally relevant, that’s their natural habitat and where Jaguar is returning.”

He added that Type 01 represents the foundation of Jaguar’s new direction, combining design and engineering as the brand looks to reinvent itself for the 21st century.

The model also carries a strong British manufacturing story. Designed, engineered and built in the UK, Type 01 will enter production in 2027 at JLR’s Solihull operations. Its electric drive units and battery packs will be produced in Wolverhampton, while pressed body panels will be manufactured at Halewood in Merseyside.

JLR said work on the production lines is already at an advanced stage. The company’s wider investment programme is supporting the transition of its British manufacturing operations towards electric vehicles, with nearly 9,000 employees at the Solihull site retrained for EV production and a further 1,500 trained across its West Midlands operations.

JLR CEO PB Balaji said: “The unveiling of Type 01 marks the beginning of an exciting new era for Jaguar. Combining British heritage, bold creativity, advanced technology and groundbreaking engineering, it reflects our ambition to create objects of desire that will help us invite a new generation of clients into Jaguar’s loyal and passionate customer base.”

Jaguar’s new chapter is also being built around culture and fashion, rather than simply automotive performance. At the New York world premiere, the company announced acclaimed actor Florence Pugh as the inaugural brand ambassador for its new era.

Pugh joined guests at the STORIED venue in West Chelsea, where the launch included a performance by British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro and a culinary programme created by chef Roze Traoré. The wider launch unfolded across New York, including digital displays in Times Square, DUMBO and the Lower East Side.

The Type 01 draws visual inspiration from iconic Jaguars including the E-type and XJS, but its positioning is firmly electric and forward-looking. Jaguar is using the model to mark a strategic shift within JLR’s wider House of Brands, with the marque positioned as an all-electric luxury brand alongside Range Rover, Defender and Discovery.

Orders for Type 01 are scheduled to open in early 2027, with first customer deliveries expected in the second half of the year. Prices will start at £130,000.

With more than 1,000PS, a 400-mile expected range and a design deliberately engineered to turn heads, Type 01 is Jaguar’s statement that its electric future will be anything but quiet.