Jaguar releases the first images of its upcoming EV as questions regarding its future continue to be asked by customers and dealerships.
Jaguar recently released images of its upcoming EV which will make its appearance towards the end of the year.
Jaguar is in the middle of a bold transformation as the storied British brand attempts to transform from a competitor that unsucessfully went toe to toe with rivals like BMW and Mercedes-Benz into a higher-grade car company that will focus solely on EVs and reaching out to wealthier clients. This change has already forced Jaguar to make some big steps including eliminating nearly all of its production lineup (The F-Pace SUV will be the sole exception to the rule) and confirming that it will not have any new products to sell for an entire year.
That last part sent shockwaves through Jaguar enthusiasts and the brand did little to offer information on what exactly it has planned. Jaguar is now attempting to provide some form of clarity and recently released several images of a heavily concealed prototype to try and show customers what they can expect to see when it eventually makes its way to dealerships.
First model will be GT model
The trickle of images comes as Jaguar is facing renewed questions about its future after years of low sales and a failed attempt to be a rival to BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The images Jaguar released don’t offer much in terms of formal detail with the car being heavily covered in wrap and other bits of protective camo. However, the core shape of the unnamed model does bleed through with the prototype having a long nose and a very high beltline. It also has a grille but as was the case with the axed I-Pace, the grille is purely cosmetic and will be merely a visual piece of familiarity for returning Jaguar customers. The charging port is also front mounted with the cover being positioned just above the right front wheel.
With this model being the purported GT that Jaguar promised, the bulk of the camo work is focused on the roofline and the rear of the EV with not much being revealed. However, we suspect that underneath the wrap is a very stylish design with some elements possibly paying homage to the old XJ-S coupe but in a more tasteful and less garish way. The wheel arches also project muscular undertones and do a good job of containing the large wheels and tires. Jaguar didn’t release any images of the interior but with this particular prototype appearing to be a very rough build, look for that to occur on a prototype that’s more polished and closer to the final product since Jaguar doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers with a cobbled together cabin made solely for testing purposes.
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- Former Jaguar Design Chief Callum Readies First EV for Launch
Jaguar is banking everything on this model
Jaguar is putting everything on the line with this model. Howeve,r it remains to be seen if higher price tags and catering to wealthier buyers will help Jaguar survive.
Jaguar is putting everything on the line with this model and the brand knows that it needs everything to fall into place to help it get a good first impression with potential buyers.
It has a substantial road presence. In terms of proportions, it is very far from what we do today. To get there, I divided the design team into three groups. Within three months they produced 17 full-size models with different design languages, some were familiar, others looked like something out of science fiction movies. The design language we chose is exuberant. Just think of something that will be really different on the road. And in December we will unveil our new design language.
In the meantime, Jaguar is hoping that this glimpse into the future will ease the levels of uncertainty and confusion that have emerged from customers and dealerships ever since the brand announced the start of its hard brand reset. This reset will see the prices of the brand’s EV models go up with reports suggesting that the price for this GT model will be somewhere between $130,000 and $140,000. For comparison, these prices were once typically seen on special Edition XJ sedan models and the high-performance XJR with these versions offering buyers extra luxury and performance to justify the higher price tag.
As such, look for this GT model to follow the same script but in an arena where wealthier clients are preferred. In addition, look for the model to have an impressive degree of customization with the art of personalizing your vehicle becoming a new fad for high-end buyers who want to establish their own distinct mark when they are out on the road in their luxury vehicle. This will also coincide with prior statements from the brand saying that this generation of EVs will be a “new species” of electrification presumably hinting at a strong focus on performance.
Jaguar is thankfully not having us wait very long to find out more information with the company confirming that it will offer more information on its plans December 2nd alongside the production version of its EV.
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