Jag-you-are, It's Electric!
Image Credit: Jaguar.
Oh my gosh. Jaguar has gone mad! I mean, we all knew this was coming, but still, it's a big deal. It kinda feels like finding out about your favorite rock band trying to record a polka album. Would you be intrigued? Sure. A little scared? You bet.
Jaguar is known for their sleek designs and powerful engines. But it seems like they're about to abandon that legacy because they're ditching the gasoline completely. And while at it, they went down the rabbit hole with their marketing campaign. How deep? The whole nine yards. We talking pinks, yellows, juice reds and an ad that you could easily mistake for something coming out of the biggest fashion house.
The whole world gasped; some people sat up, and some executed the loudest and the most painful facepalms of their lives. The easiest way to explain this is to imagine your classy uncle, the one who always wears perfect suits and has the perfect haircut, going full Elton John overnight. And I mean Elton John from his wildest days. With a lot of pink. Yeah, it's a moment etched into our history now, and I bet Jaguar will never be allowed to forget it. But there has to be a car involved somewhere, right?
Yes, there is. So, what do we know about this new electric wonder? Well, it's a four-door GT, which basically means it's a fancy sports car with enough room for your friends (or your golf clubs, whichever is more important). And, if you believe all the marketing, it'll be the "most powerful Jaguar ever," which is a pretty big claim. I mean, have they forgotten the F-Type SVR? That thing was a beast.
But I digress. The all-new electric Jag is still under wraps, literally - the prototype is stickered up with layers of camo. But from what I can see, it's got a long hood, a low-slung stance, and a wide wheelbase. Basically, it looks like a proper sports car. And it's apparently been through "tens of thousands of miles of virtual and physical testing," so hopefully, it won't fall apart the moment you drive it off the lot.
This electric Jag is going to be built on a dedicated electric architecture called, wait for it…, Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA). I know, super creative, right? But then again, at least it's clear. And it's going to be built at Jaguar's Solihull factory in the UK, which is good news for British manufacturing.
Image Credit: Jaguar.
But here's the thing that's making me raise an eyebrow. Jaguar is promising that this new car will be a "copy of nothing." Now, I appreciate the sentiment, but isn't that kind of the point of a prototype? To, you know, test out new ideas and see what works? I'm all for innovation, but I also don't want them to reinvent the wheel (pun intended).
Speaking of wheels, this electric Jag is going to have some pretty big ones. And the windows are going to be smaller than usual, which I guess is to make it more aerodynamic. Or maybe they just ran out of glass. Who knows?
Anyway, back to the important stuff. This electric Jag is supposed to launch in late summer 2026, which feels like a lifetime away. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning, let alone what the car world will look like in two years. But at least they're giving us something to look forward to.
In the meantime, Jaguar is planning to show off a Design Vision Concept in Miami on December 2nd to give us a sneak peek at the new EV. I'm not sure what to expect exactly, but I'm picturing some kind of a futuristic spaceship on wheels. Maybe with a built-in margarita maker.
Oh, and one more thing. Jaguar is going to stop making the I-Pace electric SUV this year, along with most of its internal combustion engine models. So, if you're in the market for a gas-guzzling Jag, you better act fast. The F-Pace midsize SUV will stick around for a little while longer, but after that, it's electric or nothing.
So, there you have it. Jaguar is going electric, and they're not messing around. I'm just ignoring the silly marketing campaign and looking forward to seeing what they come up with. Even if I'm a little wary of all this new technology. I mean, I still haven't figured out how to program my coffee maker. Maybe this electric Jag will come with a personal assistant who can do it for me. Now, that's what I would call progress.
