Pictures have surfaced of an almost production-ready version of Jaguar’s electric XJ, the car that was tipped to lead the brand’s electric reinvention before it was scrapped in 2021.
The electric XJ was first previewed by the brand in 2019 and was spotted several times road testing in the advanced stages of its development.
But Jaguar called time on the model just two years later “following a thorough technology review against the exponential change in the automotive industry” because the car “does not fit with our vision for a reimaged Jaguar brand”.
Jaguar never released official pictures of the car. The brand has since pushed back its previous 2025 target to go EV-only by a year – and the concept that will set the tone for its complete electric rebirth will be revealed in just a matter of weeks.
Now, just as Jaguar gears up to unveil that brand-redefining concept, pictures of the scrapped XJ EV have been leaked, showing the model for the first time without camouflage.
So the stillborn X360 Jaguar ‘XJ-E’ has leaked. I’m still after the studio launch photos… pic.twitter.com/TrtdnCuOLt
— Richard Seddon (@RikSed) November 17, 2024
These images reveal the XJ EV would have taken heavy design inspiration, especially at the front of the car, from the Jaguar I-Pace – so far, the only EV the brand has launched – while retaining the XJ’s saloon body shape.
This shape is similar to the electric Jaguar GT, a car that will launch the brand’s transformation in 2026 and something that has previously been dubbed an indirect replacement for the axed XJ EV.
Official pictures of the striking new four-door in prototype guise were released last week and show that Jaguar's £100k Porsche Taycan rival will be a complete departure from recognisable Jaguar styling hallmarks, with straight-edged proportions and a long bonnet.
It is the first of three upcoming electric Jaguars due to arrive by the end of the decade atop a new brand-specific, EV-only platform called JEA. The other two EVs are a large luxury saloon and an SUV.
Before its new era begins, Jaguar has stopped producing the XE, XF and F-Type in Castle Bromwich, and production of the E-Pace and I-Pace will come to an end at Magna’s factory in Austria by the end of the year. Just the F-Pace will remain in production through 2025 for certain markets, but not for the UK.
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I did wonder what the then new XJ looked like, and now I've seen it I can see it didn't move the game on at all for Jaguar. I'm also guessing it's range and efficiency would probably not have been good enough.
I think the new range, starting with this GT is going to really boost Jaguar ahead of the competition. After all it's previous German competition look either downright ugly - BMW 5 Series, or utterly boring - Mercedes E Class.
If it really is the jaw dropping look that has been promised, and I think it could well be, then even in the top end luxury sector, they could be onto a winner.
In order to succeed Jaguar have to completely distance themselves from the existing line up, which were all thesame just different sizes either SUV or Saloon.
A starting price estimated at 130k puts it well beyond what I could afford, which given I owned six new Jaguars over a twenty year period, but is probably the only way the marque has a future.
Looked like a good car, shame Jag' has lost it's way.