Jaguar Type 01 Surfaces in Monaco as Its First Public Glimpse Arrives

Prototypes of the Jaguar Type 01 rolled quietly through the winding streets of Monaco this weekend, parked in plain view just hours before the Formula E race weekend kicked off. The four-door electric grand tourer wore a bold camouflage wrap in red, white, and beige, with its new name printed large across the roof so no one could miss it. Crowds gathered along the harbor and narrow roads caught sight of the long hood, slim headlights, and clean lines that mark the start of something fresh for the British brand.

Designers have chosen a truly game-changing body shape, eliminating the standard front grille. Thin daytime running lights sitting above real LED headlights dominate the front appearance, while ingenious pop-out door handles make the sides look very sleek. From the right angle, the car’s rear appears completely sealed, with the exception of a small aperture for the trunk. Inside, you can see a steering wheel with thick horizontal spokes and buttons and controls strategically placed for your thumbs. A large digital screen swoops across the dashboard, accompanied by a really nice instrument display far in front of the driver.

The engineers equipped the car with three electric motors that create over a thousand horsepower and 1300 Newton-meters of torque. The battery pack has a capacity of 120 kilowatt hours. Those stats suggest the car has real straight-line speed and smooth passing ability, but the goal is to create a luxury grand tourer that is all about long-distance cruising in style, rather than a track-day ripper. Jaguar developed and produced the entire thing in Britain, staying true to its roots.

The car’s name is actually rather easy. The term “Type” refers to masterpieces such as the Le Mans-winning C-type and the super-elegant E-type. The zero plainly represents zero tailpipe emissions due to its electric motor. The one is the first step in Jaguar’s new direction, as that same signature number appears as a thin row of horizontal lines where the hood meets the windscreen, a throwback to last year’s Type 00 prototype. That detail will most likely appear on all of their future vehicles.

The timing of the road car’s reveal with the Monaco E-Prix made complete sense. Jaguar Racing competes in the series, and they have won four of the first eight races this season. Mitch Evans and António Félix da Costa have each won two races, giving the team some considerable momentum heading into the double-header on the same streets where the new road car will be on display. The prototypes served as a bridge between their race cars and the next commercial model, reminding everyone that Jaguar still values performance at all levels.

We won’t know the full details on the Type 01 until September, but these veiled prototypes on the Côte d’Azur provide a rather clear indication of where the brand is headed. Owners who used to shop Bentley or Rolls-Royce now have a new British alternative based on electric power, modern design, and plenty of presence, the kind of car that turns heads in places like Monaco.
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