The shock of Jaguar’s colorful and deliberately provocative relaunch in December 2024 is still fresh in the minds of many car enthusiasts. Nevertheless, Jaguar remains true to its schedule, positioning and product strategy. We joined the development team and found that this luxury GT represents much more than a bold reboot.
Jaguar devotees who have remained patient since the brand’s big reveal at Art Basel in Miami a year ago will have to hold back a little more. The official rebirth of the brand and its first new model are still a long way off. The first new car, a Gran Turismo with a length of more than 5.20 meters, will remain under wraps until late summer next year. The first customers are not expected to sit in a luxury sedan until spring 2027 that aims to turn everything Jaguar has done so far on its head. Despite ongoing protests and several manufacturers’ retreat from all-electric strategies, Jaguar’s future flagship will be both huge and fully electric. Project manager Rawdon Glover is clear: “We are fully committed to an all-electric future and are now in the final stages of development of our new electric Jaguar GT. Having driven it myself, I can assure you it will be worth the wait.”
A visit to Gaydon and Jaguar Land Rover’s highly secure development center confirms this impression. Even under the heavy black and white camouflage, the four-door GT looks impressive and powerful. The front, with its narrow LED light signatures, looks more intimidating than the gloomy British skies, while the rear features dramatically sculpted wheel arches. They have huge 23-inch wheels mounted on proven prototype rims. Crucially, as Glover points out, these wheels are standard equipment and not intended as optional extras. The technical highlights include the rear wheel steering and the air suspension; the drive is provided by three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear. The total output is around 735 kW, which corresponds to around 1,000 hp, and the torque is well over 1,000 Nm. A battery with around 120 kWh should enable a range of up to 700 kilometers.
What this powertrain can achieve becomes clear from the passenger seat of one of around 150 prototypes that are currently being tested worldwide. The seating position is unusually low and the cabin is remarkably quiet as test engineer Navid Shamshiri accelerates onto the high-speed track. After a few gentle laps of getting used to it, the electric GT sprints over 200 km/h in a matter of seconds. The car feels stable and extremely stable, with its long wheelbase and wide track perfectly suited to a vehicle built in Solihull. “To create a car that drives as good as it looks, we undertook the most comprehensive development program in Jaguar’s history,” explains Shamshiri, before releasing the car again and gliding through a roundabout with almost casual ease.
Inside, there is a reserved yet luxurious atmosphere beneath the dark camouflage panels. Leather is everywhere, the carpets are thick and four individual seats offer generous comfort. However, the instruments are smaller than expected and the central touchscreen wouldn’t look out of place on a large smartphone. There is no sign of a passenger display or head-up display on this prototype. Whether that’s enough remains to be seen, especially since Jaguar’s repositioning also extends to pricing. Starting prices are expected to be well over 150,000 euros, which puts the electric GT in a rare area where everything has to be right.
The window areas are relatively small, while the body parts are large, giving the prototype an almost conceptual presence. Even on the handling route and despite bad weather, the future Jaguar impresses with its balanced chassis setup. It feels firm but never harsh, with air suspension front and rear. “There has never been a Jaguar like this before,” says Rawdon Glover. “In 2026, Jaguar returns and begins a bold new chapter. This GT is the first of a new generation of luxury electric vehicles, the most technologically advanced Jaguar ever built and a car that is unparalleled in looks and driving experience.” Now Jaguar needs to ensure its marketing and brand repositioning matches the ambitions of the car itself.
