Jaguar Classic to Build and Sell Electric E-Type
Concept version of E-Type Zero debuts at Pebble Beach
Jaguar Classic captured our attention last year when it restored an old E-Type and converted it to electric power. Now, the automaker's classic car division has confirmed it will sell all-electric E-Types, with deliveries expected to start in the summer of 2020.
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Old E-Types will undergo the conversions at the Classic Works facility in Coventry, U.K. Existing E-Type owners can also bring in their cars for the update, which Jaguar says is fully reversible.
Full details and specifications haven't been released, and we don't know if these cars will be exactly like the E-Type Zero Concept. This model features a 40-kilowatt-hour battery that can be recharged overnight at home in 6-7 hours depending on the power source. Hitting 62 mph takes 5.5 seconds, making this electric car quicker than the original Series 1 E-Type, according to Jaguar.
The concept's electric powertrain uses many components from the Jaguar I-Pace, but the automaker says it drives much like the original E-Type. The front-to-rear weight distribution hasn't changed, and neither have the suspension or brake systems.
Jaguar debuted a second version of the E-Type Zero Concept at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, one of the Monterey Car Week events leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Instead of the serene blue paint job on the original showcar, this model gets a new Bespoke Bronze exterior.
Source: Jaguar
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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