What do DJ Khaled, the Jaguar E-Type and F-Type Project 7 all have in common?
They were all in attendance at the Jaguar and Haute Living celebration to meet the highly talked about Jaguar Type 00 on the rooftop of the Jaguar Land Rover North Dade dealership in North Miami.
Despite the 2024 Jaguar rebrand with the introduction of a new logo, laying to rest the iconic leaping jaguar and roaring Jaguar logos and new “Copy Nothing” slogan sparking widespread, intense debate and criticism as well as praise, it is clear that the Type 00 is the future.
No matter what you thought of the 30-second promotional video, released in November 2024, it immediately went viral, amassing 160 million views and 100,000 comments without even showing a car. Well-played, Jaguar!
By the launch of the Type 00 concept car, first seen in December 2024 at Miami Art Week, the iconic brand was the talk of the world, not only by car enthusiasts but anyone interested in technology and the future of electric transportation.
As a Jaguar owner myself, I cannot pretend to miss the days of the 2014 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Super Bowl commercial featuring the helicopter chase through London, but I am definitely more than intrigued with the concept as Jaguar shifts to an all-electric brand by 2026.
Unlike some of the prominent and head-turning concept cars of the past, we were told that this one is going to be extremely similar to what we will see in the road-legal version in the near future. The evolution of the car, sitting next to some of the brand’s most well-known and respected models I mentioned above, is very exciting and definitely looks like industry-leading progress.
Quite fittingly, the most recent Type 00 showcase was hosted on the eve of qualifying for the Formula E, where Jaguar TCS Racing was debuting in Miami and working to hold on to their first world championship team win of the prior season. It is not uncommon for car manufacturers to compete then integrate racing-derived technology into their road cars.
In Formula 1, Scuderia Ferrari (doing so since 1950), Mercedes-AMG Petronas, McLaren, and Aston Martin, to name a few, have famously developed and used hybrid systems, aerodynamics, electrified turbochargers, and data systems for their F1 cars which have been utilized and are critical in the performance across their models. Jaguar TCS Racing and their current Jaguar I‑TYPE 7 is doing just this with their push to electric.
Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first luxury manufacturer to join the all‑electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Previously Jaguar’s racing history was marked by Le Mans Triumphs from 1951 to 1957 and a Formula 1 Venture from 2000 to 2004, where the acquired Stewart Grand Prix team was rebranded as Jaguar Racing.
In 2024, Jaguar TCS Racing won the ABB FIA Formula E Teams’ World Championship, Jaguar’s first world championship win since 1991. Jaguar also won the newly created Manufacturer’s Trophy with the I‑TYPE 6, Jaguar’s all‑electric GEN3 Formula E race car. Formula E remains a key priority for JLR and the company’s “Reimagine” strategy. As the premier, all‑electric world championship, Formula E allows the team to test and develop new electric vehicle technologies in a high‑performance environment.
While Formula E is yet to have the immense fanfare and clout that Formula 1 has, especially since the introduction of the Netflix series Drive to Survive, my invitation to spend the weekend with the Jaguar TCS Racing team was an incredible experience.
It was eye-opening to see how this pedigree of racing has rapidly evolved and is expected to continue doing so as the world transitions toward next-generation vehicles. The eyewatering stats of the current generation race car include 0-60 mph in 1.82 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph coming from a 300 kW (402 hp) power train in race mode, which boosts up to 469 hp in “attack mode.”
Attack mode is a Formula E characteristic where drivers can temporarily boost their power for a limited time by deviating away from the racing line and activating in a designated zone.
The greater mobility of these cars, with faster acceleration than their Formula 1 counterparts, means that Formula E races are more often held on inner city circuits, also showcasing the benefits of electric vehicles and their benefits to city life.
The race itself is a very similar setup to Formula 1 with a grid walk full of the recognizable faces from Hollywood, sports, and racing exploring the grid before the start. I didn’t see DJ Khaled though, as I imagine he was still taking photos with the Type 00.
With arguably more action than a lot of other modern day races, due to the larger numbers of overtakes, the focus is on ongoing power regeneration from braking to extend the range and enhance race strategies and attack mode. In the inaugural race of the season in São Paulo, Brazil, Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing won the race having started from last place on the grid.
Unfortunately, the Miami race itself did not end as planned for Jaguar TCS Racing, as a safety car and subsequent time penalty took them out of contention for points.
That being said, it is very clear that Team Principal James Barclay and his team are determined to win a consecutive championship this season, while showcasing the incredible technology and ever-evolving progress of their electric cars that we can expect to see in the striking Type 00 and upcoming line up from Jaguar.
As a longtime car and race enthusiast, I do fear the day when we will see the last V8 come off a production line, but seeing incredible acts of innovation in such a bold and radical manner by a manufacturer that has produced some of the most undisputedly beautiful looking and sounding cars ever created makes me a feel little better and optimistic about what is on the horizon.