Electric Powertrains Will Reinvent The Car Jaguar Says

Ian Callum, head of design for Jaguar, says electric powertrains will “reinvent the car.” He tells Autocar, “My personal view is that electric cars are a new start. Car design will change more in the next 15 years than it has in the past 100 – electrification will kickstart the biggest change in automotive design in history.”

“The opportunities an electric powertrain offers are huge, especially in terms of the space for occupants. By removing so much of the mechanical hardware and placing the batteries in the floorplan you open up all sorts of possibilities with packaging. The question is whether you make the cars smaller, but with the same interior space, or keep the cars the same size and offer more space – or perhaps both.”

Callum insisted the opportunities presented by electrification far outweigh the drawbacks, saying: “It offers designers and stylists a much greater freedom. It is an opportunity we must embrace, because we have choice as an industry to either be considered part of the problem of global warming or to be part of the solution.”

“I’m clear in my mind that an electric Jaguar would be suitable for the brand. You have to move with the times and design for the opportunities. Look at the C-X75 concept – that was a car that was designed for an alternative powertrain, and nobody had any complaints about how that looked. It just so happened we later fitted a conventional powertrain in the car – but it was designed entirely around an electrified hybrid powertrain. Jaguar is expected to blend the appeal of the C-X75 sports car with a package that seats four in comfort.

Industry sources believe Jaguar is working on an electric SUV to rival the Audi Q6 e-tron quattro. Both cars are expected to go on sale in 2018 and cost about $80,000. The similarly priced Tesla Model X will start at about the same price but will come to market sooner. The Tesla can also accommodate up to 7 passengers.

In preparation for its electric road car debut Jaguar is entering next season’s Formula E electric car racing championship, with testing scheduled to begin in August. It has also patented the EV-Type name, although insiders say this is to protect the name, rather than a definite indication it will be used.

SUV’s are the hottest market segment at the moment, so it makes sense for Jaguar to target those customers. At present, there are no photos or design sketches that reveal what an electric Jaguar SUV might look like, although there are some who think the F-Pace crossover may offer clues to the size and styling of the electric Jag.

Photo credits: Autocar

Jaguar “EV-Type” Trademarked In Europe, US

Though Jaguar has built some of the most beautiful sports cars ever conceived, their naming nomenclature has always been less than creative. AutoGuide reports that Jaguar has trademarked the “EV-Type” name in both Europe and the U.S., leading to speculation that an all-electric Jaguar is in the works.

The Jaguar E-Type is amongst the most famous classic Jags, and the automaker recently finished building the last six all-aluminum 1960s E-Types ahead of the launch of the Jaguar XE, which hasabout 75% aluminum content itself. Right now the Jaguar F-Type sports car is the only “-Type” in the company’s lineup, though the name was also used in the early 2000s for sedan models (the unremarkable S-Type and X-Type). There’s little indication as to just what the Jaguar EV-Type is in the trademark filings, but it would almost certainly be a pure electric vehicle, rather than a plug-in hybrid.

This coincides with rumors that Jaguar’s corporate sibling Land Rover is developing an electric Range Rover to compete with the upcoming Tesla Model X, though I doubt Jaguar will go the SUV route for its debut EV. A more likely scenario is a competitor for the Model S, which points the way towards either a luxury sedan or sports car like the Jaguar C-X16 hybrid concept, though there’s a more far out possibility as well; the return of the C-X75 concept as an all-electric supercar.

While the turbine-centric drivetrain was ditched in favor of a high-output four-banger, the C-X16 project was eventually shelved as Jaguar focused on the launch of the 75 MPG XE sedan. Obviously the interest in alternative fuels is still there though, and the company recently installed the largest rooftop solar system in the U.K., expanding its commitment to green energy beyond its cars. A Jaguar Land Rover executive was recently quoted as saying he sees a place for electric cars as a second or third vehicle (at least for now), so there’s certainly some interest on the automaker’s part. But just what kind of electric Jaguar would the brand’s customers buy?

For now Jaguar is remaining mum on the subject, though the possibilities are positively titillating. Jaguar has always been one of my “reach” brands filling my dream garage, and the thought of an electric Jaguar to rival the likes of the Tesla Model S is something I can absolutely get behind.

Source: Gas2