The automotive landscape has rarely seen a creation as polarizing or as heavily scrutinized as the vehicle born from Jaguar’s radical reinvention. Following the massive wave of conversation sparked by the Type 00 concept car, Jaguar has officially pulled the wraps off the production-ready 2028 Jaguar Type 01 in New York City. While the transition from a show car to a road-going model has naturally brought a few adjustments—such as the addition of a second set of doors, functioning side mirrors, and standard windshield wipers—the resulting four-door electric grand tourer looks, if anything, even more striking and avant-garde than its predecessor.
Regardless of public discourse or internet commentary, the engineering beneath the Type 01’s spaceship-like skin is undeniably ambitious. Boasting up to 1,015 horsepower, a targeted 400-mile range, and an aggressive starting price just north of $130,000 when it arrives in U.S. showrooms next year, Jaguar’s bold new flagship aims to redefine the brand entirely.
What do you think?
Examining the exterior of the Type 01 reveals proportions that remain remarkably faithful to the original concept car, despite the inevitable integration of production-mandated details. When the initial concept debuted, automotive observers noted subtle visual nods to classic Jaguars of the past, including the iconic E-type. That heritage-infused DNA carries over into the production model. While the design relies heavily on crisp, straight, and hard lines, it simultaneously embraces sweeping curves and subtle details that evoke the spirit of historic Jaguar models. Much like spaceships of science fiction, the Type 01 cuts a distinct and futuristic silhouette.
Measuring an impressive 208 inches in length and standing just 55 inches tall, the Type 01 is a massive machine. It spans roughly nine inches longer and sits an inch lower than a Porsche Panamera, featuring a dramatic chop-top greenhouse and a sweeping roofline. According to Jaguar, the vehicle achieved a drag coefficient of 0.23 Cd following more than 7,000 hours of wind tunnel testing. It utilizes a three-stage automated spoiler that deploys dynamically to reduce aerodynamic drag or generate downforce, while the entire vehicle drops by over half an inch when traveling at highway speeds.
The dash-to-axle ratio—often termed the "luxury gap" or "prestige gap"—spans a generous 35 inches, accounting for roughly 17 percent of the car’s overall length. This span is visually bridged by a piece of trim called the Fender Ingot, which serves as the sole location on the exterior housing the traditional Leaper emblem. While 21-inch wheels come standard, the vehicle can be equipped with massive 23-inch wheels that match the stance of the original concept.
Up front, the Type 01 features the slimmest headlights ever fitted to a Jaguar production vehicle. Measuring a mere 3.3 inches in height, the light assemblies pack 17,000 individual pixels capable of advanced cornering and projection technology. Instead of a traditional grille, the front fascia features a ribbed panel adorned with the new Jaguar wordmark, flanked by an angular lower bumper equipped with active cooling vanes. The distinctive hood strakes from the concept, positioned at the base of the windshield, remain intact and flow visually into the top of the dashboard.
In place of a conventional rear window, the Type 01 relies on a roof-mounted shark fin camera. The hatchback panel incorporates a slim trim piece housing the center high-mounted stop lamp alongside stamped Jaguar lettering. Perhaps the most arresting aesthetic element is the rear fascia itself, which incorporates more than a dozen vertical strakes housing hidden, full-width taillights that illuminate only when activated. These distinctive rear graphics required approximately 4,000 hours of dedicated engineering development.
Mission: Impossible Panel
One of the most notable manufacturing triumphs highlighted by Jaguar is the inclusion of what the company calls the "Impossible Panel." This massive body panel comprises the entire side of the roof, the C-pillar, and the rear quarter panel. Traditional automotive design rules typically dictate that a single body panel should feature no more than three planes with sweeping curves and zero acute angles. The Type 01 actively shatters these conventional constraints, presenting a complex web of surfacing creases that mimic the sharp flick of a pen.
Producing this panel requires an intricate six-step cold-forming process driven by a four-story-tall machine exerting 2,500 tons of pressure. Engineers spent 1,500 hours refining the technique, which integrates seamlessly into the manufacturing workflow while creating a high-pressure zone to enhance aerodynamic performance.
The side glass apertures are notably compact, with door openings that appear tighter than those found on rival four-doors like the Porsche Taycan or Mercedes-AMG GT. Utilizing a compressed-radius hemming technique on the cant rail design, Jaguar successfully concealed the glass seals without requiring supplementary cosmetic trim, preserving the clean look of a concept car.
While initial concept showings leaned heavily into bright pinks and pastel blues, the production Type 01 launches with a sophisticated palette of silver and icy blue hues. Gloss finishes include Compelling Blue, Dramatic White, Iconic Black, Refined Grey, and Visionary Silver, alongside satin options such as Mesmerizing Copper, Modernist Blue, and Visionary Silver Satin. For buyers seeking a more vibrant aesthetic, Jaguar will offer a limited run of 60 vehicles in the Chromatic Moments collection, featuring French Ultramarine—a satin paint inspired by Renaissance art—and London Red, a nod to British heritage.
Quick to accelerate and fast to charge
Underpinning the Type 01 is an entirely new, highly rigid platform developed by Jaguar Land Rover known as the Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA), specifically engineered from the ground up for a high-performance four-door grand tourer. A massive 118-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted low within the chassis, extending forward of the passenger compartment. This energy storage system yields an estimated U.S. driving range of 400 miles, with Jaguar highlighting a real-world capability of 320 miles sustained at 75-mph highway speeds.
Operating on an 850-volt electrical architecture, the vehicle supports DC fast-charging at speeds up to 350 kW. This capability allows the battery to recover 200 miles of range in just 13 minutes, or transition from a 10 percent to 80 percent charge in 22 minutes. Split-charging capability enables the vehicle to optimize power delivery when connected to various charging infrastructure types, accommodating up to 250 kW at 400 volts. AC charge ports are integrated into both front fenders, with DC charging hardware housed on the passenger side alongside North American Charging Standard (NACS) compatibility.
Propulsion is handled by a tri-motor setup featuring a 349-horsepower motor on the front axle and dual 416-horsepower motors at the rear. These units incorporate silicon carbide inverters derived from Jaguar’s Formula E racing program. Total system output reaches up to 1,015 horsepower and 1,007 pound-feet of torque, enabling the grand tourer to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds, followed by a 62-to-112-mph acceleration run in an additional four seconds.
The tri-motor configuration allows for torque vectoring, channeling up to 87 percent of torque to the rear axle when driving in Dynamic mode. During relaxed cruising or city driving, the system automatically decouples the rear motors to maximize efficiency. The vehicle boasts a 50:50 weight distribution, with a center of gravity positioned 2.4 inches below the driver’s hip point and a yaw center centered between the front occupants.
Handling dynamics are further managed by a dynamic air suspension system featuring twin-valve dampers capable of adjusting 1,000 times per second. Rear-wheel steering provides up to 6 degrees of articulation, granting the large grand tourer a turning radius comparable to a standard BMW 3 Series. Drivers can select from five distinct drive modes, supported by adjustable regenerative braking for one-pedal driving and an advanced thermal management system designed to maintain peak performance under extreme environmental conditions.
Would you spec The Original Story?
Inside, the cabin maintains the minimalist design philosophy previewed earlier. Eschewing the industry trend toward overwhelmingly expansive screen layouts, the interior centers around a 24-inch OLED display positioned behind the steering wheel for instrumentation and primary infotainment functions. A secondary 7-inch touchscreen is integrated into the center console to handle frequently accessed controls such as climate adjustments and media playback, with a matching screen provided for rear passengers. A full-length center console features concealed storage compartments and cup holders.
The rearview camera display is housed within a black rectangular module at the base of the windshield, integrated directly into the Panoramic Soundbar. By positioning this display at the same eye level as the side mirrors, Jaguar aims to reduce the focal adjustment required by the driver. The shark fin camera system also incorporates a hydrophobic lens to maintain visibility during inclement weather. The Panoramic Soundbar itself contains 13 speakers, forming part of a comprehensive 38-speaker Meridian audio system engineered to deliver immersive sound quality throughout the cabin.
Cargo capacity stands at 15.9 cubic feet beneath the tailgate, expanding to 35 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. The cargo floor features multi-level storage solutions and front-to-rear detailing. Despite the lengthy hood, the front trunk is sized primarily to accommodate an essential emergency kit.
Interior upholstery options draw inspiration from travertine stone, categorized into three distinct palettes: The Light Story, The Dark Story, and The Original Story, the latter representing the first "Curated by Jaguar" Design Vision edition. Buyers can select between premium leather or Ultrafabrics NeoGrain. Recycled materials are utilized extensively, including Kvadrat wool-blend textiles featured on the cabin floors. Colorful embroidery accents the headrests, while anodized aluminum trim finishers encircle the interior. The four individual seats are distinctively separated, with the rear positions offering heating and ventilation, while the 12-way adjustable front seats include a hot-stone massage function.
It’s competitively priced
While official curb weight figures were omitted from initial press materials, prototype testing indicates the Type 01 will scale in near the 6,000-pound mark. Despite its hefty footprint and extreme performance specifications, the pricing strategy for the new flagship grand tourer proves surprisingly measured.
When order books open in early 2027, the 2028 Jaguar Type 01 will carry a starting price of $130,500 in the United States, excluding destination charges. While standard equipment levels for the entry-level tier remain to be detailed, this price point positions the car slightly below a Porsche Taycan 4S, competitively against the Mercedes-AMG GT55, and roughly $15,000 above a Lucid Air Grand Touring. Even fully optioned variants approaching the $200,000 mark align reasonably with competitive benchmarks given the vehicle’s engineering and performance metrics.
How the market ultimately receives the Type 01 remains to be seen as Jaguar navigates its broader corporate overhaul and brand transition. Yet, the introduction of a thoroughly distinct, uncompromising niche vehicle signals a definitive leap into a new era for the historic British manufacturer.