Jaguar engineers revisited what has made the brand truly great before beginning work on the its reimagined future. To appreciate the dynamic essence of what makes a true “Jag”, they started the development journey by driving iconic models from its past.
Only then could they implement this feeling in the reimagined luxury four-door GT. The new Jaguar embodies two characters in one car: an engaging drive with deep reserves of power, plus refinement and composure.
“At the outset we took the unusual step of spending time behind the wheel of great models from our past – to get under the skin of what truly makes a Jaguar,” vehicle engineer director Matt Becker said.
“At its best, Jaguar has always delivered two characters – performance and comfort – in perfect harmony and our new luxury GT is no different. It embodies everything the brand stands for.”
This duality also defines the DNA inherent in the Jaguar E-type, XJS and XJ series – some of the cars driven by the team in May 2023. Dubbed the ‘Spirit of Jaguar Drive’, the experience confirmed distinctive driving attributes inherent in the brand.
These are essential to the new Jaguar four-door GT, along with a long bonnet and low roofline that provide a clear visual link to great models of the past while defying the EV design norm. For those wondering, engineers drove the XK120, E-type, XJ Coupe V12, XJS and XJ Series I.
Each offered a visceral demonstration of the brand’s provenance – of what would make the new luxury GT a true Jaguar. The XK120, composed on the road, demonstrated that the new GT must provide a cosseting cabin that shrinks around the driver.
It must also surpass current performance levels in its class. The E-type remains an exceptional representation of Jaguar. Comfortable and relaxing, yet fast with accessible performance, it showed you should never arrive unnoticed.
Above all, the driving dynamics of the four-door GT are inspired most by the XJ Coupé with its blend of performance and comfort. The V12 always has power in reserve, while its chassis cossets like a luxury saloon.
Designed to travel long distances at pace, the XJS left today’s engineers feeling refreshed and energised. This translates into the new GT, with its ability to carve through corners and cross continents in complete confidence.
The XJ Series I epitomises characteristics central to the future of Jaguar – power in reserve with exceptional refinement. To faithfully capture its spirit, engineers have put the new GT through a demanding real-world and virtual development schedule.
Testing in extreme conditions and environments around the globe, and in the digital realm, has allowed Jaguar to refine its distinct driving character and develop a suite of in-house propulsion technologies for a four-door GT that drives like no other electric car.
Intelligent torque vectoring and tri-motor technology, delivering more than 735kW of power and 1,300Nm of torque, put power where and when it’s needed, with embedded software that responds in as little as one millisecond for an engaging and rewarding drive.
Dynamic air suspension works alongside twin-valve active dampers to finesse ride comfort. The four-door GT will be revealed in September this year. Its modernist design, pioneering technology and driving dynamics will underpin all future Jaguar models.
