Testing the Jaguar Type 01 – The resurrection
The Jaguar Type 01 is meant to save the brand from decline. It’s an enormous challenge, but look at it another way: it must have been a fantastic project for the design team and engineers to bring Jaguar back to life from scratch on a blank slate.
Copy Nothing
Even before anyone had seen any footage of the Jaguar Type 01, global automotive media was buzzing about the project. “Copy Nothing” was one of the reasons for that interest. It was a promotional video that showed no cars at all, only a group of eccentric, gender-neutral models. Even Elon Musk got involved: “Do you sell cars?”
To some, it seemed as though Jaguar had thrown away its glorious history, built over more than 100 years. And when the world saw the Type 00 concept car some time later, the criticism only intensified. Extremely long, angular, pink, and without a rear window. Where were the sensual, typical Jaguar lines?
Thus, controversy
That’s good news, as the fact that so many people are concerned about Jaguar says something about the brand. Now the Type 01 is ready to enter the market, after Jaguar stopped producing its entire model lineup. It’s a car that is likely to generate just as much buzz in the coming time as it has already done.
Let’s start from the beginning. What exactly is it? A GT that is 5.20 meters long and about two meters wide. Four-door, unlike the concept car. Fully electric, of course, as Jaguar is becoming a fully electric brand.
There are various versions available in terms of powertrain. I was able to drive the top model with over 1,000 horsepower. Officially, it delivers a maximum of 1,030 PS and 1,365 Nm. The Type 01 is the model Jaguar launches with. It is followed by a SUV-like model in the same design language. I certainly don’t rule out a smaller model, although Jaguar has not yet revealed what will come next.
NDA’s
It was quite secretive at the test site near British Gaydon. In the days leading up to this small-scale event, I had to sign around five forms, ranging from NDAs to others. I could leave my phone in a safe before being allowed through the entrance to the test site. As a result, I was the first Benelux journalist to drive the Type 01.
To refresh my knowledge of Jaguar’s history, several classic models were on display. Among them was a fine E-Type and an XJR-S. It is these models that show how Jaguar’s design philosophy worked in the past and how the brand is attempting to do it again today.
The E-Type was once praised by Enzo Ferrari for its beauty. It was later followed by the XJ-S, which had little in common with the E-Type in terms of design, aside from that massive hood. Jaguar wanted to develop revolutionary cars back then, and it still wants to do so now—cars that make a splash, not necessarily functional, but certainly eye-catching. Cars you want because they are desirable. And that is exactly what the Type 01 does as well. You want this GT.
Concorde
It should be clear that the Type 01 is not functional. For a car over five meters long, there’s only modest space in the back seat. Though once you’re seated, it’s fine. Some folding mechanisms are needed though. The rear doors are compact and require a different way of getting in: first your buttocks, then your legs.
Sitting in the back is a bit like being on a private jet. Once you’re in your seat, it’s comfortable, but to get in you have to fold yourself in first. The so-called central spine is incredible. From front to back runs a cardan-like tunnel with control elements and storage spaces.
The seats comfortably enclose your body both in the front and back. The view outside is somewhat limited from the rear seats, but this actually enhances the feeling of being inside an airplane. It might even remind one most of a Concorde, though I’ve unfortunately never been on one.
Simple elegance
Everything was different. That was an advantage for the designers. How amazing that must have been for the engineers in England—a blank sheet of paper, completely empty, along with a substantial amount of money to get started. The task: create a revolutionary GT that is utterly desirable, as revolutionary as the E-Type once was.
Get behind the wheel, and you won’t find forced retro references to Jaguar’s past. Instead, there’s a clear and eye-catching dashboard that feels both cozy and digital—unlike many modern vehicles filled solely with screens. There are physical controls, warmth, and beauty.
Jaguar Type 01 offers Rolls-Royce-like comfort
The striking similarity lies in the Type 01’s luxurious character and its overall presence. It boasts an extremely refined and quiet driving comfort that truly recalls that of the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Take the suspension comfort: outstanding. Don’t forget that the Type 01 is equipped with massive 23-inch wheels.
The car effortlessly filters out bumps, track marks, and potholes on the road surface without causing the cabin to shake. They weren’t being childish at Gaydon: I was allowed to drive on the worst sections of the test track.
Jaguar deliberately chose not to make the car sit stiffly and flat on the road. The Type 01 moves slightly and tilts in corners. According to the engineers, this is essential to give the driver a natural feel and sufficient feedback. These are clearly controlled body movements that don’t compromise comfort.
A 5.20-meter car isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about maneuverability. Yet the Type 01 is surprisingly easy to handle. Additionally, the steering mechanism doesn’t have a linear response: it’s gentle at moderate speeds but becomes more direct once you apply more steering input.
50/50 Weight Distribution
At the urging of the engineer sitting next to me on the test track, I pushed hard on the Jaguar Type 01. The speed was impressive, which is to be expected with over 1,000 horsepower. The test car was slightly retuned, but I didn’t feel any lack in performance.
The weight distribution is perfectly balanced at 50/50, but what might contribute even more to the true GT experience is that you sit almost at the car’s center of gravity behind the steering wheel. Now we need to return to the design aspect. There is a huge distance between the front wheels and the start of the front doors. Jaguar calls this “luxurious space.” It is precisely this distance that makes the Type 01 so striking—its size is truly emphasized.
To make smart use of that space, part of the battery cells are located around the dashboard. This allows for openings in the battery pack to accommodate the feet of the four occupants. Thus, deep footwells that can fit even size 44 shoes. A clever solution for a car that is only about 1.40 meters tall. That “luxurious space” also contributes to the position of the driver’s seat and, consequently, to the connection with the car. And that connection is wonderful.
Smooth acceleration
A relief is the way power is delivered: smoothly. No rollercoaster-like sensation that slams the driver and passengers against their headrests with every stoplight sprint. Many electric cars accelerate extremely sharply from a standstill, after which the acceleration softens at higher speeds.
The Jaguar Type 01 feels different. The acceleration is astonishingly fast, but the power delivery remains refined and predictable. Jaguar claims 3.2 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h, and just four seconds for the sprint from 100 to 180 km/h. Here’s the thing: it actually reminds one a bit of the historic, smooth power of a Jaguar V12. Not frantic or showy, but with the sense that there’s still plenty of power left.
Forget the hype
Actually, I could keep it short: this is a car you want to have. For many reasons, starting with its insane appearance. Take some time to look at it when it’s parked at Jaguar later. Grab an espresso and a chair, and examine the car calmly. Look at it from the front for a while, then from the side, and finally the rear. Horizontal lines run throughout, making the Type 01 even more imposing.
And once you start driving it, you experience a Jaguar as it must have felt during those first moments in an E-Type or XJR-S. A rich character that’s different from almost any other extremely powerful EV: a blend of elegance, comfort, agility, character, and the knowledge that an enormous amount of power is always available.
It’s brilliant that Jaguar has stayed so close to this radical concept. If you can afford at least £130,000 for a car and prefer one that leaves no one indifferent, then wait for this Type 01. Respect, Jaguar.
Text by Werner Budding
