Jaguar has officially pulled back the covers on its highly anticipated, deeply controversial Type 01 electric grand tourer at a global debut in New York.

Described by Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover as “the end of the beginning”, the most technically advanced, powerful and aerodynamic Jaguar ever engineered marks the radical rebirth of the 90-plus-year-old British motoring icon as an ultra-luxury EV brand.

Already seen in prototype form and now uncovered for the first time in production specification, the Type 01 is a bold, £130,000 statement car designed to carve out a new era for Jaguar, which strategically halted all new car sales in the UK back in late 2024 to clear the way for this all-electric transition.

The all-electric GT also establishes a distinct role for Jaguar within JLR’s wider ‘House of Brands’ strategy, alongside Range Rover, Defender and Discovery, enabling the brand to address a different segment of the luxury market while supporting the company’s long-term growth and continued investment, as outlined in the strategy set out by JLR for Jaguar in 2021.

The ‘Type’ designation honours the brand’s legendary predecessors, while ‘0’ is for zero tailpipe emissions and ‘1’ is for the first of a new generation.

An architecture built to ‘Copy Nothing’

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, the Type 01 will be built in Solihull using a dedicated Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA), with Electric Drive Units (EDUs) and battery packs made in Wolverhampton, and pressed body panels manufactured in Halewood, Merseyside.

The four-seat flagship is engineered under a strict ‘Copy Nothing’ founding philosophy, as shown by the fact that Jaguar has made more than 360 patent applications. It’s powered by a tri-motor electric setup generating 1,030hp and 1,365Nm – good for hypercar-rivalling performance of 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in 3.2 seconds.

Jaguar claims the Type 01 “breathes with the road”, using dynamic air suspension and active dampers that adjust up to 1,000 times a second to balance ultimate comfort with precision handling. A low centre of gravity and a perfect 50:50 weight distribution allow the low-slung GT to handle like a much smaller vehicle, Jaguar tells us.

Despite stretching to a commanding 5,235mm in length, the Type 01 matches the 11.5m turning circle of a compact family car, thanks to standard-fit All-Wheel Steer, which turns the rear wheels by up to six degrees.

Drivers can select from four pre-set driving modes – Jaguar, Dynamic, Efficient, and Ice & Snow – alongside a fifth ‘Curated Mode’ for full, bespoke personalisation of the driving experience.

The 118kWh usable battery is expected to deliver up to 450 miles of WLTP range. Furthermore, as it’s built on an 850V electrical architecture, it’ll be able to charge at up to 350kW, giving 200 miles (321km) of range in as little as 13 minutes.

The system features intelligent split-charging to maximise speeds on 400V infrastructure, alongside a 22kW on-board AC charger and ThermAssist technology that “optimises energy usage to control temperature for optimal performance in extreme climates”.

The Type 01 also comes with twin AC charging ports, with one on each side, to simplify charging wherever it’s parked, while the Jaguar app enables drivers to find, check and pay for charging using the integrated ecosystem.

Built on a new software-defined architecture, the Type 01 is designed to get better with age via software-over-the-air (SOTA) updates. Its digital brain is an NVIDIA-powered central controller that runs 10 times faster than previous Jaguar systems, having completed over 150,000 software tests.

This processing power also feeds an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) that draws on 10 cameras, five radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors to enhance safety, comfort and convenience, while also “seamlessly blending assistance systems into the driving experience, so they feel natural and unobtrusive”.

Exuberant exterior with high-tech interior luxury

The radical exterior delivers a stately, ultra-low limousine silhouette with “exuberant proportions” that include a long bonnet, low roofline, short front overhang and frameless doors. Showcasing the “confident new face” of the brand with a distinctive new four-light signature, it’s also the most aerodynamic Jaguar ever.

Filling the arches are huge 23-inch alloy wheels (with a 21-inch option available), but perhaps the car’s most distinctive feature is the complete absence of a rear window. Mirroring the bold design choice of the Polestar 4, the traditional rear glass is replaced by a solid body panel. Drivers need to rely entirely on the digital ClearSight Rear View Display that delivers a high-definition feed directly to the internal rear-view screen.

The interior is inspired by the “layered tones of travertine stone and the play of light and shadow” with concealed compartments and technologies that are “hidden until needed”.

The cabin is split up into four individual spaces by a central “spine” running down the length of the floor. This layout is intentionally designed to maximise passenger elbow room and make “every journey feel like an occasion”.

Upfront, there’s an Interactive Driver Display based around a 24-inch single glass OLED screen that operates the intuitive new Jaguar Infotainment system. An additional smartphone-style 7.0-inch display between the driver and front passenger places the most common key controls within instinctive easy reach. A matching 7.0-inch portrait display is integrated within the central spine and sits in the rear centre console for those in the back to control comfort settings. The Type 01 also gets a full-width, full-range, automotive-first Panoramic Soundbar with Sensory Audio seats.

There’s a low-slung set-up for the driver that “cossets and inspires confidence”, while the driver and passenger seats are 12-way electrically adjustable, heated and cooled, with hot stone massage effect. Split-folding (50:50) rear seats are heated and cooled. Driver and passengers enjoy complete control over cabin light, day and night, beneath a panoramic glass roof with adjustable virtual blind, fitted as standard.

The powered tailgate accesses over 450 litres of loadspace, expanding to 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded. The split-level luggage space features front-to-rear strikethrough detailing and the hidden underfloor stowage provides additional space. Larger items can be accommodated by tilting the rear seatbacks forwards while the seats themselves are “distinctive by design, with fewer seams and stitch lines for a clean, contemporary look”. The Type 01 also gets “service stowage” under the bonnet for charging cables and maintenance essentials.

The multi-billion pound strategy

The New York debut follows nearly two years of industry speculation and polarisation over the Type 01 teasers and Jaguar’s abstract rebranding campaign.

It also marks the first development in JLR’s intensive electrification strategy. Since announcing its £15-18bn five-year investment programme in 2024, the marque has invested £11.5bn in engineering, designing and manufacturing its next-generation vehicles, with most of this investment spent in the UK.

The Type 01 spearheads JLR’s broader push for double-digit growth over the next five years, with three main drivers. These include brand-led growth, targeting different customer segments to diversify growth.

Enhanced propulsion flexibility is also a core focus, keeping a mix of ICE, hybrid and BEV options across its brands, with Jaguar as uniquely all-electric. The group will also prioritise North America as a growth market.

PB Balaji, chief executive of JLR, 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.

“Designed, engineered and built in the UK, Jaguar is a copy of nothing and is a vital part of JLR’s growth story, strengthening our House of Brands strategy and supporting long-term investment in British innovation, manufacturing and skills.”

Orders are expected to open in early 2027, with first client deliveries anticipated in the second half of the year.