By Otsile Kadiege

The Jaguar brand has been marred with controversy in recent weeks after the automaker unveiled their new logo which got the ‘petrol-head’ community up in arms on social media and forums alike. Jaguar then added salt to the wound after teasing a new soulless, box shaped concept car which was unveiled yesterday on the 2^nd of November at Miami Art Week. Dubbed Type 00, the new concept car previews what’s to come from Jaguar, as the brand recaptures the original ‘Copy Nothing’ ethos of its founder, Sir William Lyons.

Why is it called ‘Type 00’?

The ‘Type’ prefix is a link to the brand’s provenance, to models like the pioneering E-type. The first zero references zero tailpipe emissions – Jaguar will no longer be making internal combustion engine cars. The second represents its status as car zero in the automaker’s new lineage.

A villain’s steed

Outside, the Jaguar Type 00 looks like a futuristic version of Cruella de Vil’s (from One Hundred and One Dalmatians movie) long-nosed, two door classic car. The confident new face combines upright, flush surfaces with the new Jaguar device mark at its center. A distinctive and precise front light signature emphasizes the corners of the car, giving width and grounding it.

The side profile is dominated by bold proportions, with the Jaguar ‘leaper’ laser-etched into a hand-finished brass ingot on each side of the car. These ingots theatrically deploy to reveal rear-facing cameras that – like the charging ports and front air intakes – remain hidden until needed. The Type 00 is shod with massive 23-inch alloy wheels.

The rear continues the bold statement. A glass-less tailgate and panoramic body-harmonized glazed roof create a sense of sculpture. The rear elevation is defined by distinctive horizontal Strike-through graphics, which hide dramatic full-width taillights and emphasize the power and scale of Type 00.

A futuristic house on wheels

Hopping aboard, a pair of dramatic butterfly doors and ‘pantograph’ tailgate open to reveal a modernist interior that shares its exuberant proportions with the exterior. The awe-inspiring cabin features three hand-finished brass lines which run the length of the interior, with a central 3.2m-long brass spine that splits a pair of floating instrument panels.

Soothing travertine stone functions as a plinth, supporting the floating seats and central spine. It inspires the rich layered tonal colour palette of the interior. Woven textiles add to the sense of craftsmanship. A tactile wool blend, inspired by handwoven yarns, envelops the two seats, sound bar and flooring.

Jaguar’s design team explored new ways of enhancing the interior. Occupants can tailor the cabin to suit their mood using the uniquely crafted Prism case. The objective of this feature is for occupants to engage with the vehicle and extend the concept of customization and personalization. It stows behind an exquisitely engineered powered door on the body-side and contains three totems of natural materials – Brass, Travertine and Alabaster.

Placing one of the totems inside the centre console tailors the mood of the interior. Everything, from the ambient lighting and unique soundscape to the tailored screen graphics, reflect the properties of the chosen material. Bespoke scents interact with the materials for unprecedented personalization.

Electric powertrain

Built in the UK, the first new-generation production Jaguar will be a four door GT to be revealed in late 2025. It will target a driving range up to 770km on a single charge and adding up to 321km (200 miles) of range in as little as 15 minutes when rapid charging. The electric Jag will be built on the brand’s unique and dedicated architecture – JEA (Jaguar Electrical Architecture).