What Have They Done? Jaguar's New Electric Concept Leaked
Image Credit: Jaguar.
Without a fail, the internet has struck again. Remember that super-secret Jaguar concept car they were teasing for Miami Art Week? The one supposed to redefine the brand and make us all forget about the, shall we say, "controversial" new logo and the plain ridiculous marketing campaign? Yeah, that one ... The official images have leaked online, and let's just say it's definitely a departure from everything we know about Jaguar.
I say this a lot - I've seen a lot of cars in my time. From the sublime to the ridiculous, the beautiful to the downright bizarre. And honestly, I did. But this new Jaguar concept? Nothing could have prepared me for this one. It's in a category all its own. Imagine a lovechild between a sleek spaceship and a cheese grater, and you're somewhere in the ballpark. In fact, I believe the designers spent far too much time watching Barbie. Yes, I watched it as well, and it was an experience I am not going to repeat. Ever. Again.
Image Credit: Jaguar.
But back to the new Jag. First off, it's electric, which is the only thing that saves it in my eyes. Jaguar is going all-in on EVs, and this concept is their grand vision for the future. It's a low-slung, three-door coupe with a long, sculpted hood that would make E-Type owners weep with envy. The proportions are classic grand tourer, but the execution is anything but.
Never mind the psychedelic pink finish. The front end is dominated by a massive, rectangular grille that looks like it could inhale small children. Apparently, it's one of the defining design motifs of the new Jaguar, and I'm sure it'll spark heated debates among enthusiasts. Personally, I'm reserving judgment until I see it in person. Maybe it'll look better under the Miami sun. I hope it will.
Image Credit: Jaguar.
Moving along the side, we have dramatically flared wheel arches housing what appears to be 24" or maybe even bigger alloy wheels. The A-pillars are practically invisible, giving the car a wraparound glasshouse that resembles a fighter jet canopy. Very cool, I must admit. But then we get to the back, and things take a turn for the... yeah. This one is for the history books.
There's no rear window, which is becoming a bit of a sad trend these days. Instead, we have another giant grille-like structure that dominates the entire rear end. That's probably where those sucked-in children are expelled. It's certainly bold, but I can't help but wonder about rear visibility. Maybe they'll have some clever camera system, or perhaps they just expect you to drive everywhere in reverse.
Inside, the concept is as minimalist as it gets. The leaked images show a lozenge-shaped steering wheel and almost no physical buttons. Everything is likely controlled through a massive touchscreen, which is all the rage these days. I just hope they've kept some essential controls separate. Fumbling through menus looking for the climate control and volume while driving is never fun.
Unfortunately, we don't know much about the specification. Jaguar is keeping things tightly under wraps for now. But we do know that the production version of this concept, a four-door GT, will pack over 1000 horsepower and have a range of more than 430 miles.
The production car is expected to be priced north of $130,000, putting it squarely in Porsche Taycan territory. It's a bold move for Jaguar, but they're clearly aiming for the top end of the market. I did hope the production car wouldn't look anything like the concept, but unfortunately, the images of a test vehicle suggest a controversial future for the once-sensible Jaguar.
Image Credit: Jaguar.
So, the new Jag is here, and it's not a revolution I was expecting. It actually feels like Jaguar decided to sabotage the entire electric vehicle idea, trying as hard as they could to put people off. If every electric car looked this way, we wouldn't have a future to look forward to. Thankfully, we have sensible automakers out there who understand that people like you and me need cars, not cartoonish creations, to drive us around.
Look, I might be a little bit harsh on Jag's new direction. I might be even wrong. Maybe they will prove me wrong, and their new branding and design language take the company stratospheric. I wish them all the best. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a pair of sunglasses strong enough to withstand the glare from that rear grille. I have a feeling it's going to be blinding.
