Electric cars have been all the rage the past few years. With many high-end manufacturers scrambling to be a part of the action by introducing something new and exciting, Jaguar does the complete opposite by going back to one of its older models, the Jaguar E-Type. Its latest version, the Jaguar E-Type Zero, was on display at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering in Monterey, California.
Having first appeared in the 1960s, it was also the car used during the Royal Wedding back in May 2018. Dubbed as “the most beautiful car in the world,” by its designer Enzo Ferrari, the car was the pinnacle of class, elegance, and prestige back in the day.
But there’s a catch: Jaguar will not be re-releasing it. Instead, it will be restoring and converting all existing Jaguar E-Type cars from its original drivetrain to include an electric motor.
All conversions and restorations will be done by the company’s Classic Works division, Jaguar Classic. The electric-powered Jaguar E-Type Zero is expected to have a range of roughly 273km with a 40kW battery pack. Ideally, it should be able to hit zero to hundred in 5.5 seconds.
Customers who already own the classic Jaguar E-Type will be able to convert their cars to the electric drivetrain, or choose to to pay Jaguar to acquire an E-Type for conversion. Of course, its original engine and transmission will be preserved in the events you would like to return back to its original drivetrain.
Besides its conversion, the Jaguar E-Type Zero will benefit from a host of new features. One of it will be the inclusion of LED headlamps, which will be an improvement over the classic’s. Another addition would be its electronic dashboard cluster with a touchscreen infotainment as an option as well. The car will also sport carbon fibre and aluminium interior with its original steering in place.
The Jaguar E-Type Zero is expected to make its grand debut in the summer of 2020 but its price tag has yet to be announced.