This time last year, Jaguar revealed the wild Type 00 concept, the first look at its all-electric future and a statement of intent to compete with Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

As development of the production version continues, a matte red example of the concept has been spotted on London’s streets, marking the marque’s 90th anniversary and coinciding with the unexpected departure of its longtime design chief, the figure behind the brand’s polarizing rebrand.

The Type 00 was originally shown in Miami Pink and London Blue during the official launch. Earlier this year, the model was dressed in a French Ultramarine livery and made a surprise appearance during the Paris Fashion Week.

Read: Jaguar’s Future GT Has No Rear Window And No Patience For Cargo

The company has now unveiled a fourth color variation, London Red with a matte finish, as the concept makes its arrival in the UK capital. The new shade draws inspiration from the redbrick Victorian architecture of Kensington, one of London’s most recognizable neighborhoods.

Jaguar

The freshly repainted concept was photographed alongside a classic 1935 Jaguar SS outside the Chancery Rosewood Hotel.

For those wondering, no other changes have been made to the concept’s exterior. It still rides on the same 23-inch alloy wheels, while the minimalist cabin remains finished in white and gray upholstery accented by ambient lighting.

Photos shared by Jaguar UK Director Santino Pietrosanti on LinkedIn show the Type 00 parked alongside some exotic company, including a Bugatti Chiron, Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge, Ferrari F8 Tributo, and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.

Santino Pietrosanti / LinkedIn

The brand’s rebrand has been met with mixed reactions. Its ad campaign, oddly enough, featured no cars at all, leaving many scratching their heads. It was also rather odd that it initially showcased the Type 00 in a bright shade of pink, which didn’t do the car any favors.

Still, under London’s gray winter light, the matte red finish lends the concept a sense of gravitas. Out in the open, it naturally draws attention, albeit that’s not really surprising for a concept car. Much like the Tesla Cybertruck, its unconventional form challenges expectations so completely that people can’t decide whether they admire it or despise it. There seems to be little middle ground.

The Road Car

Prototypes of the production version suggest Jaguar plans to stay faithful to the concept’s striking proportions. The roadgoing model will, however, take a more practical shape with four doors and a longer wheelbase, built on the company’s new Jaguar Electrical Architecture platform.

More: Jaguar’s Future GT Has No Rear Window And No Patience For Cargo

As per recent reports, the EV should have a driving range of up to 430 miles (692 km) and support fast charging, adding 200 miles (322 km) of range in just 15 minutes.

Only time will tell if those who would ordinarily shop for a Bentley or Rolls-Royce will be willing to spend their money on a vehicle that looks as controversial as this.

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JLR Design Chief Axed

In separate news, it has been confirmed that Jaguar Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern has departed from the brand. No official reason has been given for this high-profile departure, but it comes shortly after former chief financial officer at Tata, PB Balaji, was named as JLR’s new chief executive.

Citing insider sources, Autocar India reports that McGovern was “escorted out of the office” on Monday, with his contract being terminated with immediate effect. The man behind Jaguar’s relaunch has spend over two decades at JLR, being responsible for successful models including the new Land Rover Defender.

According to business economics professor at the University of Birmingham, David Bailey, McGovern’s exit marks a “symbolic end of an era.” He told The Guardian that it may also be a sign that Tata wants to exert more control over the British company.

Thanos Pappas contributed to this story.

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Jaguar is betting their future on an electric grand tourer, which was previewed by the Type 00 concept. The production model was supposed to be introduced late this year, but that’s no longer happening.

In an interview with ABC News, Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover revealed that the ultra-luxury sedan has been delayed until 2026. The executive didn’t say why the electric model was pushed back, but it doesn’t bode well for the company.

More: Jaguar’s Future GT Has No Rear Window And No Patience For Cargo

That said, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect that the recent major cyberattack played a part. The prolonged incident plunged Jaguar Land Rover into chaos in early September, and they’ve only recently resumed production.

It’s also worth noting that Jaguar is still testing the model as a prototype was spied on the Nürburgring last week. This could mean the GT isn’t quite finished and they wouldn’t have had things wrapped up in time for the originally scheduled debut.

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Regardless of what caused the delay, Glover suggested they’ll start taking orders shortly after the debut. Deliveries will then start “relatively soon after that.”

How Much Will It Cost?

The car won’t be cheap as the executive implied the model will cost around $130,000. That’s nearly three times as much as the 2024 XF, but customers will be getting the “most powerful Jaguar ever.”

Glover didn’t go into specifics, but the company has previously said the car will ride on the Jaguar Electrical Architecture and have a range of up to 430 miles (692 km). Owners can also expect to get 200 miles (322 km) of range in as little as 15 minutes with a DC fast charger.

While Glover wasn’t ready to give details, he suggested the car will “drive really well.” He also implied it will buck trends as he said, “There aren’t many EVs that are really engaging to drive.”

Still Defending Jaguar’s New Look And Mission

The rest of the interview was largely focused on Jaguar’s new look and the controversial rebrand, which they’ve been defending for nearly a year. Glover said “We’ve got to create a car that has drama, has scale, has proportion … that will create a real visceral reaction when people look at it.”

The Type 00 concept has certainly done that and the executive noted seeing the car in person is a lot different than looking at it on your phone. As he explained, when viewed in the flesh, people can “understand the proportions, the drama, the scale of the vehicle.”

Glover went on to say the United States will likely become their biggest market and a “vast majority” of customers are “positive” about the design. However, he noted this comes after having the “time to explain and really walk through why the Type 00 looks the way it does.” That’s not ideal as beauty and desire shouldn’t need an explanation.

Getting back to the delay, Glover said new cars are still available and you’ll be able to get one for the “next 18 months or so.” That certainly seems to be the case as a quick search reveals over 2,100 new vehicles in stock. A vast majority of these are the F-Pace crossover, but there are still a few F-Types, I-Paces, and XFs around.

Jaguar is slowly recovering from a devastating cyberattack, but the company is looking forward to a brighter future. It’s inching closer as the production version of the Type 00 concept is scheduled to debut late this year.

Things are starting to get down to the wire and testing continues on the Nürburgring, where a slightly less camouflaged prototype was being put through its paces.

While the car is still heavily disguised, the latest pictures give us a more revealing look at the front air intakes. We can also see production headlights, which are significantly larger than those found on the concept.

More: This Is The Electric GT That Will Either Save Or Kill Jaguar

The rest of the design echoes previous prototypes, but spy photographers managed to snap some pictures with the liftback open. As you can see, the model will follow in the footsteps of the Polestar 4 and 5 by eschewing a rear window.

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While that’s notable, it appears the packaging will be pretty terrible as there’s a relatively small opening and a tall sill. The latter is waist high on the man in the picture, which forces him to lean in and bend over to access things.

Needless to say, the experience doesn’t exactly look ultra-luxurious or female-friendly. Short people could also have a difficult time accessing items stored in back.

The automaker hasn’t said much about the car lately, but the company has previously said the “electric four door GT” will ride on the new Jaguar Electrical Architecture.

The model is also slated to have a range of up to 430 miles (692 km) as well as a fast charging capability that can deliver 200 miles (322 km) in as little as 15 minutes.

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