Jaguar Marks 90 Years by Contrasting 1935 SS Model with Electric Type 00 Concept

Jaguar formally acknowledged nine decades of its distinctive design lineage on December 8, 2025, hosting a significant presentation in London, England. The event, held at The Chancery Rosewood hotel, established a visual dialogue between the brand's foundational history and its electric future through the juxtaposition of two key vehicles. The presentation centered on the contrast between the original 1935 SS Jaguar and the radical, forward-looking Type 00 concept car, symbolizing a sustained commitment to distinctive automotive design.

The 1935 SS Jaguar, the first model to bear the Jaguar name, embodied founder Sir William Lyons' principle: "Copy Nothing." This philosophy resulted in a design that departed sharply from the utilitarian forms common among British automobiles of the early 1930s, featuring a dramatically low roofline and an extended bonnet for a sleek, low-slung silhouette. Ninety years later, the Type 00 concept is presented as the inheritor of this pioneering spirit, serving as a preview of the design language for the brand's first electric GT tourer, which is scheduled for a full production unveiling in 2026.

Rawdon Glover, Managing Director of Jaguar, articulated the brand's forward-looking strategy, emphasizing that Jaguar has consistently been defined by design excellence and a fearless disposition. Glover stressed that as the production Type 00 approaches its 2026 launch, the immediate focus remains on reinforcing Jaguar's uniqueness through boldness and an uncompromising identity. To further connect the celebration to British heritage, Jaguar introduced 'London Red,' a bespoke paint finish inspired by iconic London elements such as redbrick architecture, gallery walls, and familiar symbols like crimson phone boxes.

This dual presentation strategically links Jaguar's history of iconic vehicles—including the XK120, the E-Type, the XJS, and the F-Type—to its electric trajectory. The Type 00 concept showcases a design language moving toward hard edges and a monolithic presence, featuring a blunt, upright front end with a rectangular grille motif dubbed the "strikethrough." The underlying technology for the production four-door grand tourer is expected to utilize the bespoke Jaguar Electric Architecture (JEA) platform, targeting an EPA-rated range of approximately 430 miles, with fast charging capable of adding about 200 miles in 15 minutes.

The London showcase occurred amid JLR's broader strategic repositioning toward "modern luxury," aiming to compete in the high-end electric segment. The Type 00's polarizing design, which some observers have likened to science fiction aesthetics, is viewed by the company as essential for capturing attention for its new era. The event successfully framed the 90-year span as a continuous journey of challenging the status quo, from the original SS Jaguar's debut in Mayfair in 1935 to the Type 00's vision for 2026.