Jaguar drops fresh details on 986 BHP electric super GT

The GT will be followed by at least two more models which could be a large luxury sedan and an SUV.

Jaguar has dropped more details on the upcoming electric four-door Gran Tourer, which will be revealed at the end of this year and go into production in 2026.

During an interview with Autocar, Jaguar Boss Rawdon Glover said that the prototype was in the midst of testing on public roads, JLR’s Gaydon proving ground and the Arctic Circle. He said that a lot of focus is on crash testing and aerodynamic performance, considering the sharp and dramatic styling previewed by the Type 00. This is important to achieve the 430-mile ( 692 km) range for the four-door GT in its most efficient form.

Glover said the chassis team took the greatest Jaguars of all time, “spent days driving the vehicles” and then looked at “what is it about them that is unique and is inherently Jaguar, and what can we take from this?”. The goal is not to create sports cars, but rather cars “you can drive confidently at pace for extended periods and still come out feeling great”.

Glover said he drove the top-of-the-line 986 BHP version at their proving grounds at speeds of up to 160 mph (257 kph), and it was the “most fun I’ve had” in his two-year tenure as Jaguar boss. The GT will use battery packs and electric motors shared with other JLR products.

As far as the looks of the production version are concerned, he said people will not be disappointed, and will not be left scratching their heads.

Speaking about the interior, he said that Jaguar won’t bombard the driver with technology.  “Most importantly, it’s got to be an amazing place to be in. The technology is there when you need it,” he said. “Jaguar is not going to win by having the best technology. That’s not a strategy.”

“It’s a bit like the great watchmakers. Yes, there’s innovation in there but they don’t win by having tech. I think there’s an analogy there in terms of design, craftsmanship and engineering, and how things drive, rather than pure tech. I think we’ll probably leave that for the Chinese (car makers).”

Despite the fact that many manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo etc. rethinking their full EV plans, Jaguar will not do anything other than full EVs. Glover said there is no flexibility and that new Jaguars will be built on the EV-bespoke Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA), with no future compatibility for hybrids.
“We made the decision back in 2021 to have an electric architecture dedicated to us,” said Glover. “There isn’t the opportunity to put a V8 into it or something else. We’re committed to being electric.”

The GT will be followed by at least two more models which could be a large luxury sedan and an SUV.

The starting price for the new range of models will be around £100,000 (Rs. 1 crore plus). Glover said: “The GT’s job is to say: Jaguar is here and can command a price point over £100,000 because the product concept and the brand is capable of doing that.

Source : Autocar UK