Luxury British car maker Jaguar is in the midst of one of the biggest rebrands of its storied history. At a launch event in Miami on Monday, it finally revealed the design of the Jaguar Type 00, an electric concept vehicle with a radically futuristic design that comes in a scene-stealing hot "Miami Pink" and a comparatively subdued periwinkle shade it's calling "London Blue."
The pink version of the two-door coupe looks like the fever dream of Penelope Pitstop or Barbie come to life, but is in fact the work of a company that is transforming to become fully electric and recently designated its new slogan: "Copy Nothing." Indeed, there's not much else like this out there.
As the industry transitions towards its new electric future, many automakers are trying to reimagine what a car should look like in this new era. Bold designs such as Tesla's Cyber Truck are already out on the road, but many heritage companies are yet to show their hand.
Jaguar it striking out ahead of many of its historic rivals in the auto space, and the Type 00 (pronounced zero-zero) is the first statement about what we can expect from its future design language, which was first hinted at when it revealed its similarly controversial redesigned logo last month.
"This is the result of brave, unconstrained creative thinking, and unwavering determination," said Gerry McGovern, Jaguar Land Rover's chief creative officer. It is our first physical manifestation and the foundation stone for a new family of Jaguars that will look unlike anything you've ever seen."
Jaguar Type 00 Design and Specs
Once your eyes have adjusted to the punchy colors of the 00 Type, the first thing you may be struck by is the car's long, sweeping and seamless profile. At the rear, the 00 is rounded out by a glassless tailgate that curves up and over into a panoramic glazed roof.
No rear windshield is certainly a bold choice.
"It has a dramatic presence, channelling a unique spirit of British creativity and originality. It celebrates art and embodies the essence of exuberant modernism," said the car's chief exterior designer Constantino Segui Gilabert.
The pinkish hue of brass is central to Jaguar's design language.
Brass ingots, embedded in each side of the car, sport the Jaguar logo and seem at first to be simply a design feature. But when deployed, they reveal rear cameras that help compensate for the vehicle's lack of rear windshield.
The distinctive brass touches continue elsewhere throughout the vehicle, across the 23-inch alloy wheels and into the interior, where a brass spine splits the vehicle down the center.
A brass spine runs down the center of the vehicle.
An oval steering wheel, butterfly doors and floating seats and instrument panels all further contribute to the 00's embrace of experimental design choices.
Jaguar Type 00 Availability
Jaguar has made it clear that the 00 is a concept vehicle that embodies the values of its new design philosophy. The company's first production car will in fact be an electric four-door GT that it plans to reveal in 2025 and build in the UK. It will use Jaguar's homegrown Electric Architecture and have a target range of 430-478 miles (692-770km), with the ability to add 200 miles (321km) of charge in less than 15 minutes.
Prices have not been revealed, but the car is expected to cost in excess of £100,000 ($127,000).