Jaguar Shows Electric E-Type Roadster

This cat whirrs!

Jaguar has just announced that all of the Jaguar Land Rover brands are electrifying starting in 2020. To help show off that feat, they’ve built what they are calling “the most beautiful electric car in the world.”

The newest EV is a 1968 Series 1.5 E-type roadster. Which means that we aren’t going to argue that claim. It’s a beautifully restored E-type (or XK-E for us North Americans) that’s had its sonorous 4.2L inline six replaced with something a little more modern.

It’s an all-electric powertrain that generates 295 hp. That’s a big increase over the 265 hp the original was claimed to make, and it makes for a quicker car. 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds instead of the 7.5 or so of the original.

The 40 kWh battery gives the car a claimed “real world” range of 270 km. That’s more than enough for a day of sporting driving around the back roads of England. And when the battery runs low, stop off at a pub for a pint and a pie and a plug.

Inside are new digital gauges and a modern infotainment system. Necessary to provide information about the electric system, but also a wonderful update to help make the car feel at home on modern roads.

The powertrain was designed so that it could be removed and the original inline six replaced. It uses the original rear end and driveline to put the power to the wheels.

Oh, and the electric system can fit into any engine bay that originally housed a Jaguar XK engine. That means that electric XK120s, Mk2s, and XJ6s could be on the way. The future of classics is charging up.

The electric E was built and engineered by Jaguar Land Rover Classic. That’s the company’s in-house restoration and upgrade facility. They also provide genuine factory parts and service for classic Jaguars and Land Rovers.