Jaguar Type 01: British brand's most controversial car revealed

Jaguar has finally unveiled the Type 01, its four-door grand tourer which it hopes will take the brand in a new direction to rival Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

Nearly two years after the first Type 00 concept was revealed – amid widespread criticism of Jaguar’s rebranding campaign – the British marque unveiled the production-ready Type 01 in New York.

The big, blocky grand tourer has been confirmed for an Australian berth, where it’ll be priced from “approximately” $300,000 before on-road costs, making it the most expensive EV Jaguar has ever sold locally, though it’s still not the dearest model it’s sold here.

Launching just over 90 years since Jaguar was founded, the Type 01 is the most revolutionary redesign of the brand’s ethos yet, with its huge grille, slim headlight, long bonnet, narrow glasshouse, non-existent back window and hidden tail lights a far cry from anything it has sold before.

Sitting on huge 21- to 23-inch wheels, the intentions of the Type 01 as a flagship grand tourer are clear, though its deployable three-stage rear spoiler and active aero vanes give a clue as to its performance credentials.

Underpinned by JLR’s new ‘Jaguar Electric Architecture’, the Jaguar Type 01 boasts a 50:50 weight distribution, though the true sum of its weight is yet to be announced.

Powering the Type 01 is a tri-motor electric powertrain, consisting of dual rear motors and a single front motor, producing up to 757kW and 1365Nm combined, making it Jaguar’s most powerful car ever.

Capable of launching from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, it’s also one of its fastest-accelerating, though when cruising its rear electric motors can be disengaged to extend its driving range.

Fed by a 118kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, Jaguar quotes a driving range of 720km against the WLTP lab test cycle, while it can be charged at up to 350kW DC thanks to its 850V architecture.

Of course, this grand tourer isn’t just made to go fast in straight lines, with its double-wishbone front and integral link rear suspension featuring Jaguar’s Dynamic Air Suspension, consisting of twin-valve active dampers and air springs.

As you’d expect for a car which is 5235mm long and 1403mm tall, there’s plenty of room inside for the four occupants, where the cabin has been treated to a minimalist overhaul.

The centre ‘spine’ features a small 7.0-inch display which controls the in-vehicle functions, while the driver gets their own huge 24-inch glass OLED screen, sitting behind a steering wheel with what appears to be touch-sensing buttons.

A digital rear-view mirror is positioned at the base of the windscreen rather than in the traditional placing on the roof, while in total there are 38 speakers in the cabin, 13 of which are in the integrated soundbar.

As the Type 01 is closer to being a liftback than a sedan, its tailgate opens to provide 450 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up, or 1000 litres when they’re folded down.

Jaguar’s Australian division says the Type 01 will be available to order in 2027, though “first client delivery timing will be communicated in due course”.