“So we have reimagined the leaper for the new brand and for the vehicle, so it will live on, but in a slightly developed format.”
Similarly, Glover hinted that historic names will have some influence over what these cars are called: “When you see the naming strategy, what you will see is acknowledgements and nods to our past, but also aspects which are much more forward-thinking.”
Glover said the GT will be unveiled in the US because of how crucial that market is for Jaguar, but said the brand is not disregarding its origins: “Don’t read that as ‘Britishness isn’t important’. It’s a really important part of the brand, but we’re also a global brand. And look at the size and the scale of the US market – for us it’s really important.”
Jaguar’s move to pure-EV propulsion comes as direct rivals have adjusted their electrification strategies in response to flatlining demand for premium electric cars. Porsche, for example, will produce the petrol-powered Cayenne beyond 2030, Audi has massively ramped up its focus on hybrids, and Mercedes-Benz has extended the life cycle of several plug-in hybrid models due to “slower than expected” EV sales.
Even Jaguar parent company JLR has adjusted its overarching EV strategy, boosting its £15 billion electrification investment package to £18bn so it can develop flexible platforms for Land Rover in a bid to ensure optimal coverage of the market as buyers remain reticent towards EVs.
