Jaguar’s Big Gamble, the Type 00 EV, Hits Nürburgring for Development, Aiming for Nearly 500 Miles of Range
Jaguar highly anticipated Type 00 EV, spearheading the brand’s controversial rebrand, is currently undergoing extensive powertrain and chassis development at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Despite its primary focus on luxury and design over outright sportiness, the challenging track provides an ideal environment to refine suspension and improve prolonged power delivery. The prototype, still heavily camouflaged, hints at a four-door luxury grand tourer with large 23-inch wheels and a sleek, blocky silhouette reminiscent of the Polestar 4. A full reveal is expected late this year or early 2026, with the six-figure EV predicted to offer a substantial 480 miles of range on the new Jaguar Electric Architecture platform, directly targeting luxury rivals like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Nürburgring Testing and Prototype Details
Jaguar is pushing ahead with the development of its new luxury EV, despite its unusual choice of testing ground.
- Nürburgring Development: The Jaguar Type 00 EV is currently undergoing powertrain and chassis development at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
- Unusual Choice: This is a “strange place” for a luxury EV focused more on luxury and design than high performance, but the track’s diverse conditions are ideal for refining suspension and power delivery.
- Heavy Camouflage: The prototype remains “heavily clad in plenty of camouflage,” disguising its true body surfacing, including the roof, doors, hood, trunk, bumpers, and rear windows.
- Polestar 4 Influence: The rear windows will likely be absent, “much like the Polestar 4.”
- Wheels: Double five-spoke 23-inch wheels appear to be the finished article, hinting at a sportier edge than expected.
- Full Reveal: A full reveal of the production version is expected late this year or early 2026.
Luxury Positioning and Design
The Type 00 represents a radical shift for Jaguar, targeting the ultra-luxury EV segment.
- Six-Figure Pricing: Jaguar has confirmed pricing will be in the six-figure range, aiming to compete with luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
- Design Continuity: The production version is expected to be “virtually unchanged from the concept shown at Miami Art Week last year.”
- Glowing Paint: To aid in its luxury efforts, the Type 00 will feature a “new sort of custom paint that is meant to look like it’s glowing.”
- Four Doors: Unlike the two-door concept, the production version will be a four-door grand tourer, offering more practicality.
- Interior Screens: Occupants will be greeted by “large screens spanning the dashboard,” a design choice that may be divisive given the trend of some brands (like Porsche) reverting to physical controls.
Electrified Performance and Range
Built on a dedicated EV platform, the Type 00 is set to offer impressive range.
- Jaguar Electric Architecture: The Type 00 is built on the Jaguar Electric Architecture platform.
- Impressive Range: It is predicted to offer in the region of 480 miles of range on a single charge.
- Fast Charging: A mere 15 minutes on a suitable fast charger should recoup roughly 200 miles of range.
Final Thoughts
Jaguar’s decision to develop the Type 00 EV at the Nürburgring underscores its commitment to the technical refinement of its new flagship, even as the vehicle spearheads a controversial brand redefinition. Despite the heavy camouflage, glimpses suggest a bold, luxurious four-door grand tourer with a strong emphasis on design and an impressive target range of nearly 500 miles. As Jaguar makes its ambitious leap into the ultra-luxury EV segment, targeting Bentley and Rolls-Royce, the Type 00 represents a significant gamble. Its success will hinge on whether its unique blend of design, luxury, and performance can overcome initial skepticism and establish Jaguar as a formidable player in the high-end electric market.
Also Read – 2026 Porsche Macan GTS Electric Debuts: 563 HP, 3.6 Sec 0-60, Best Handling, Priced at $103,000
