Jaguar Type 01 unveiled: 1,000‑hp electric grand tourer hits £130k

Jaguar has stepped out of the shadows of a controversial rebrand and into the spotlight with the launch of its first all‑electric grand‑tourer, the Type 01, unveiled in New York on Tuesday. The vehicle, which clocks in at roughly 1,000 hp and a 0‑62mph sprint of 3.2 seconds, carries a price tag of £130 000 and a range of up to 320 miles at sustained highway speed. The unveiling signals the brand’s bold, if polarising, pivot to a fully electric future, and it has sent shockwaves through the premium car market.

Two years ago, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) stirred controversy with a teaser ad that featured models in bizarre and brightly coloured outfits and a pink concept car. Critics branded the move as “woke” and accused the marque of abandoning its heritage. The backlash was amplified by the absence of any cars in the original campaign video. The campaign’s impact on public sentiment was immediate, with social media eruptions and a furious backlash in the press and on social media.

Media additions

“Jaguar has no desire to be loved by everybody,” quipped Jaguar's denim-clad design chief Gerry McGovern on a Miami stage.

BBC, via BBC.com

In the wake of the campaign, JLR wound down production of its old Jaguar models in 2024 and 2025.

The Type 01’s debut has been met with a mixture of fascination and scepticism. The vehicle’s design – a long bonnet reminiscent of the 1960s E‑Type, four‑door layout, and a sculpted, low‑profile body – is meant to evoke the marque’s heritage while delivering cutting‑edge performance. The car houses three electric motors that together deliver 1,030 hp and 1,365 Nm of torque, according to Parkers. It also features a 118 kWh battery, an 850‑volt electrical architecture, and a 350 kW DC fast‑charging capability that promises a 200‑mile range boost in 13 minutes.

Performance metrics are equally striking. The Type 01 can accelerate from 0‑62mph in 3.2 seconds and, with four‑wheel drive, can reach 112mph in 4.0 seconds, a figure that underlines the car’s high‑performance pedigree. On the practical side, the vehicle offers 430 litres of boot space – 50 litres less than a BMW 3 Series – and a 2.2 m width. Inside, a minimalist cabin dominated by a 24‑inch central display and a 38‑speaker sound system provides a high‑tech driver experience.

While the Type 01’s specs are impressive, its reception has been divided. Some social media users have compared it to a “Cybertruck and a Bentley Continental” fused into one, while others have praised its “sculptural” look and high‑performance credentials. Automotive journalists have noted that the car’s design is a deliberate attempt to blend heritage cues with modern electric‑vehicle efficiency, a strategy that has generated both admiration and ridicule.

Jaguar’s internal upheavals mirror the external turbulence. Since that event in Miami two years ago, McGovern has left the company, JLR has parted ways with the agency behind the controversial rebranding campaign, and the company also has a new chief executive.

Financial analysts have taken a cautious view of the brand’s recent trajectory.

Looking ahead, Jaguar plans to roll out the Type 01 in UK showrooms in spring 2027, with a launch price expected to exceed £120 000. The GT is expected to be the first of three new electric designs from Jaguar.

What to Watch Next

• Official launch event in the UK (spring 2027) – expected to showcase the Type 01’s retail pricing and availability.
• Jaguar’s first electric grand‑tourer test drives – industry reviews to assess real‑world performance and practicality.
• Consumer sentiment surveys – to gauge whether the brand’s heritage‑centric design resonates with its new target demographic.

In a market that is rapidly shifting toward electric mobility, Jaguar’s Type 01 offers a bold statement of intent. Whether the brand can translate its high‑performance credentials and heritage‑inspired design into sales momentum remains to be seen. The coming months will reveal whether the company’s gamble on a radical rebrand and an electric grand‑tourer pays off for the iconic British marque.