All-Electric Jaguar E-Type Zero Brings New Hope To The Future Of Car Design

Dubbed as the Jaguar E-type Zero, the all-electric iteration of the iconic British sportscar was showcased as a concept, last year. Back then, nobody really thought that it would ever come into production or if Jaguar could do such an ‘injustice' to the automotive icon — plonking an electric powertrain instead of the original smooth-revving straight-six.

But Jaguar proved them wrong and the first car is scheduled for delivery, sometime in 2020.

From the outside, the E-type Zero looks identical to the original 1968 Series 1.5 Jaguar E-type on which it is based, except for the LED headlamp unit. The low-slung body, smooth British lines, chrome bumpers, oval front grille and the traditional spoke wheels showcase something we have been missing over the years.

The car also retains the hood hump which extends towards the short chrome-outlined windshield. Overall, the car looks just as classy as it should be.

However, on the inside, there are some modern elements integrated neatly into the minimal cabin design. There is a touchscreen infotainment system at the centre and a digital instrument cluster. Apart from that, wood, leather and metal finish the interiors.

The original Jaguar E-type came with either an XK 3.8-litre or 4.2-litre straight-six engine. At 265bhp, both made the same power but the latter had a higher torque of 384Nm compared to the former's 325Nm. The engine was married to a four-speed manual good enough to take the car from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds. The 4.2-litre version had a recorded top speed of 246km/h; one of the highest figures of its time.

Coming to the E-type Zero, the powertrain is an electric motor coupled to a 40kWh Li-ion battery which generates 220kW (295bhp). The E-type Zero can hit 100km/h from a standstill in around the 6-second mark while also offering a decent range of 275 kilometres. Kerb weight has come down by 45 kilograms, compared to the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car.

Another interesting fact is that the original six-banger E-type can be converted into an E-type Zero. Being almost the same size and dimensions as that of the petrol engine and its related components, the electric powertrain can be retrofitted into an original E-type. But most of the purists and collectors wouldn't opt that.

The exact specifications of the emission-free E-type are yet to be shared. As for the pricing, we expect it to go upwards of 300,000 British Pounds or around Rs 2.72 crore.

Thoughts On The Jaguar E-Type Zero

The Jaguar calls the E-type Zero as "the most beautiful electric car in the world". While in popular fashion, car manufacturers tend to make electric cars look as futuristic as possible, Jaguar has opted a different route. The British car brand aims to prove that cars of the future need not look apart from everything else on the market but can do well with the forgotten classic lines. The Jaguar E-type Zero definitely gives new hope to the future of car design!