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Jaguar's radical Type 00 cruises London in bespoke 'London Red'
The UFO-like Jaguar Type 00 returned to public roads this week, making a dramatic low-speed appearance in central London that confirmed what skeptics once dismissed as a non‑drivable concept: the Type 00 is very much real — and it’s road-capable. The striking matte finish, dubbed "London Red," landed the car in front of the Chancery Rosewood hotel and drew a steady stream of phone cameras and incredulous double-takes from passersby.
The Type 00 made its global debut as an extreme concept at Miami Art Week 2024 and has remained a polarising presence ever since. With its elongated hood, sloping roof, rounded rear and massive 23‑inch aero wheels, it looks like something designed for a sci‑fi set or a next‑gen video game — and that visual shock is exactly part of its strategy. But beyond the headline-grabbing looks, the London outing served as another clear signal that Jaguar intends to move this silhouette toward production.
From Miami and Paris to London: a concept on the move
Earlier this year the Type 00 briefly toured Paris with actor Barry Keoghan on board, a sighting that triggered social media conspiracy theories. Some viewers joked the footage was AI-generated, pointing to the absence of a conventional rear window. In fact, Jaguar fitted the concept with camera-based rear vision systems that feed live images to interior displays — a practical detail that underlines the car’s technical maturity despite its radical aesthetics.
Jaguar has shown the Type 00 in several liveries — London Blue, Miami Pink and French Ultramarine among them — but the new matte London Red was created specifically to echo the red‑brick Victorian façades of Kensington. Jaguar says the bespoke paint marks a moment of heritage-meets-future for the brand, a visual bridge between the company’s past and its electric ambitions.
Heritage pairing: SS Jaguar meets the Type 00
To emphasise the link between Jaguar’s heritage and its electric future, the Type 00 shared the road in London with a restored SS Jaguar — the model that carried the Jaguar name back in 1935. That 90‑year contrast was deliberate: Jaguar positions the SS as its original rule‑breaker and casts the Type 00 as today’s reinterpretation of what a Jaguar can be.
Production plans and technical highlights
Jaguar says the Type 00 will enter production as a luxury GT built at its Solihull plant, with a formal production reveal expected in 2026. The road‑going car will ride on Jaguar’s new Electric Architecture (JEA) and is being developed as a high‑end electric grand tourer with serious range and fast‑charge capability.
Key technical claims Jaguar has disclosed so far include:
- Fast‑charging that can add up to 200 miles (about 321 km) of range in 15 minutes
- A battery capable of an EPA‑targeted range of up to 430 miles (approx. 692 km)
- Camera‑based rear and side vision systems replacing traditional mirrors
- Aerodynamic 23‑inch wheels designed to optimise efficiency and appearance
Jaguar has already shown winter test mules near the Arctic Circle, implying the production powertrain and thermal management are well into validation. For buyers and enthusiasts wondering how the Type 00 will stack up against other luxury EV GTs — think Porsche’s Taycan family or Mercedes‑Benz’s top EQ models — Jaguar is pitching the Type 00 as a blend of extravagant design, long range and fast recharging aimed at long‑distance drivers who still crave a strong visual identity.
Design controversy and management shakeup
The Type 00 has not been without controversy. The car’s polarising design prompted a torrent of online opinion — from admiration to ridicule — with snarky labels such as "fridge on wheels" or "rolling trash bin" appearing in comment threads. The backlash took on a heavier tone this week when Jaguar’s longtime design chief, Gerry McGovern, the architect of the Type 00 concept, was removed from his role.
McGovern had been positioned to lead Jaguar’s transformation into an all‑electric marque. His exit, which came shortly after PB Balaji succeeded Adrian Mardell as CEO, is being read by many observers as the fallout from the fierce public reaction to the Type 00’s design. Jaguar insists the car embodies "fearless" design language and represents the brand at its most audacious, but the corporate reshuffle highlights the political risk of bold styling in a heritage brand.
What this means for Jaguar and the market
The Type 00’s public drives — in Miami, Paris and now London — are a calculated risk. They keep the car in the conversation and help Jaguar test real‑world reactions while validating hardware such as cameras, charging systems and the JEA platform. They also position Jaguar differently in a crowded luxury EV landscape: rather than a conservative evolution, the Type 00 is an attempt to rewrite expectations about what a Jaguar should look like in the EV era.
For buyers, the eventual production Type 00 promises to be a high‑range, fast‑charging luxury GT with eye‑catching design. For the industry, it’s an example of the tension between brand DNA and radical reinvention — and a reminder that design choices now carry near‑instant global feedback via social media.
Highlights:
- Road‑ready concept spotted in London wearing bespoke "London Red"
- Production planned for Solihull; reveal expected in 2026
- JEA architecture, rapid charging, up to 430‑mile EPA target
- Design polarised public opinion and preceded the departure of lead designer
Whether you love it or loathe it, the Type 00 has delivered on one objective: it has made people pay attention. As Jaguar moves the car from concept to production, the industry will be watching closely to see if the gamble on extreme design pays off in sales and brand relevance in the electric age.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
v8rider
wow that looks like a spaceship! love the bravery but also kinda unsettling… London Red suits it tho, weird but cool. would I buy it? nah, but respect for trying.
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