Jaguar has responded to rumors that the brand would be pivoting away from all-electric models as part of its upcoming revival. Claims were made that Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) had told engineers to develop a gasoline-powered engine for the 2026 Jaguar GT. The presumption was that the automaker would be fielding hybrids due to waning EV sales.
Leadership has since denied those rumors, asserting that the brand remains fully committed to all-electric vehicles.
While Jaguar effectively suspended production in 2024, the company announced that this was part of a grand scheme to revitalize the brand. However, subsequent messaging really flummoxed enthusiasts. Jaguar stated that all future models would be battery electric, ultra premium and then launched a bewildering ad campaign that didn’t feature any products.
The marketing effort felt more like a business that was pushing cosmetics, rather than automobiles. Previews of its next design concepts were also met with resistance. Vehicles lacked any traditional design cues, a styling language Jaguar dubbed “exuberant modernism.” While the cars kept a silhouette vaguely evocative of the original E-Type, curved bodywork was entirely absent.
Its “Type 00 Concept” vehicles (pictured) were extremely blocky, adding a visual weight that’s rarely associated with sporting cars. Speculation abounded regarding how serious Jaguar was about these designs and whether Jaguar could realistically come back as a hyper-luxury brand that exclusively fielded EVs.
Earlier this month, The Sunday Times reported that JLR had been secretly working on a combustion engine that could be used as a range extender. This was allegedly an initiative under Pathamadai Balachandran “PB” Balaji, who serves as chief executive for both Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover.
The rumor was that the company was growing concerned about selling EVs exclusively and wanted to have a hybrid option in its back pocket. However the company has since told Autocar that is not to be the case. Jaguar will still relaunch wholly devoted to all-electric vehicles.
From Autocar:
In addition, a spokesperson for JLR said officially: “Our plans to reinvent Jaguar as an electric-only luxury automotive brand are unchanged. Last month prototype passenger rides received overwhelmingly positive reactions from global media and we are looking forward to unveiling the first new electric Jaguar later this year.”
Autocar recently got to experience the Type 00 production car for the first time as part of a passenger ride at the firm’s Gaydon headquarters and found it the “best-riding car ever”.
Despite EVs having a few shortcomings, Jaguar does seem to understand how to lean into their strengths. The forthcoming Jaguar GT is supposed to be a 1000 horsepower, tri-motor luxury car offering one of the most placid rides around. This is thanks to its nearly silent powertrain and adaptive air-ride suspension.
Jaguar is clearly attempting to build a traditional grand tourer (long, low, powerful, and sublimely comfortable on long journeys) using a non-traditional form of propulsion. But GT cars also tend to feature massive fuel tanks and heavy EVs have often struggled with range.
Rumors have suggested the car should be capable of over 400 miles between charges thanks to an oversized battery pack. But this has yet to be confirmed by the company. Unlike the concept vehicles, it also won’t be a true coupe. Instead, Jaguar will be fielding a four-door car that just looks like a coupe — a trick aided by the vehicle’s body shape and recessed door handles.
Having already suffered one delay, the all electric GT is supposed to enter into production in the middle of this year. This will coincide with the official reveal of the model people can actually purchase. Pricing is expected to start somewhere around $130,000 with the car serving as the tip of the spear for Jaguar’s new EV offensive.
However, deliveries may not commence until early 2027 — meaning subsequent models may not show up in driveways until 2028. Thus far, JRL has hinted at there being two more vehicles waiting in the wings, one of which will be an all-electric SUV.
[Images: Jaguar Land Rover]
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