Jaguar is poised to introduce a new era of electric vehicles (EVs) with a grand tourer set to debut later this year, marking the British automaker’s shift towards a bespoke electric platform. This new model is the first of three upcoming EVs that will utilize the Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA), signaling the brand’s transition from a premium automaker to a luxury marque.
According to JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, the upcoming grand tourer will be a unique design that will evoke strong reactions. “The first model will make people ‘salivate’ when they see it,” Mardell told Autonews. “Although it will be a ‘copy of nothing,’ it will draw inspiration from Jaguar’s legendary models, including the E-Type.”
Jaguar aims to compete with luxury brands such as Bentley and Porsche with this new lineup. The automaker plans to focus on the American market, potentially unveiling the concept car at prestigious events like the Pebble Beach Concours in August or the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Mardell noted that targeting super-wealthy buyers in the U.S. had been successful for Jaguar in the 1990s.
The new EVs, based on the JEA platform, are expected to offer a range of up to 434 miles (700 km) and will be priced at over ÂŁ100,000 (approximately US$125,600). Jaguar’s Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern hinted at the possibility of special edition models, including a limited-run model potentially named the “Panthera.”
