Love it or hate it, you can’t accuse Jaguar of playing safe.

The new Jaguar Type 01 is the first production car of the brand’s all-electric reinvention, and it makes a pretty clear statement: Jaguar isn’t interested in building another premium EV that blends into the background.

Unveiled in New York on 6 October, the four-door electric grand tourer has a long bonnet, enormous 23-inch wheels, a dramatic rear end and no conventional rear window. It looks nothing like the Jaguars many of us grew up with — and that’s very much the point.

But with prices starting at £130,000, according to Jaguar, this is more than a bold design exercise. It’s a high-stakes attempt to establish a new identity for one of Britain’s most recognisable car brands.

And this time, the product has to do the talking.

More than a controversial design

The Type 01 follows the striking Type 00 concept revealed in 2024, which sparked fierce debate about Jaguar’s new direction. The brand’s advertising and rebranding attracted almost as much attention as the car itself, not all of it positive.

The production car has retained much of that concept’s unconventional character. Its clean surfaces, distinctive horizontal detailing and exceptionally long bonnet are a deliberate break from the increasingly familiar shapes of modern electric cars.

There are echoes of classic Jaguars, particularly the E-Type and XJS, in its proportions. But this is no straightforward exercise in retro design.

Jaguar wants to compete at the top end of the luxury market, where standing out matters as much as performance. Whether the Type 01’s looks will win over potential buyers remains an open question. What’s clear is that the company has committed to a vision rather than trying to please everyone.

The engineering is serious

Look beyond the styling and the Type 01’s specifications make for impressive reading.

Built around Jaguar’s bespoke Electric Architecture (JEA), it uses three electric motors producing 1,015bhp and 1,365Nm of torque. Four-wheel drive helps put that power down, with 0–62mph taking a claimed 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

A 118kWh battery is expected to deliver up to 435 miles of range on the WLTP test cycle. Its 850-volt electrical architecture supports DC charging at up to 350kW, with Jaguar claiming that 200 miles of range can be added in around 13 minutes under suitable conditions.

Those figures put the Type 01 firmly in the performance-luxury category. But raw power is only part of the story.

Jaguar says the car has been developed to combine effortless high-speed cruising with the agility expected of a sporting grand tourer. Rear-wheel steering, adaptive suspension and sophisticated torque distribution are all part of the package.

It’s an ambitious brief for a car measuring more than 5.2 metres long and weighing around 2.7 tonnes.

Early driving impressions are encouraging — with a caveat

Auto Express has already driven a pre-production prototype, and its early verdict suggests Jaguar may have got some important things right.

Ride comfort, refinement and high-speed acceleration impressed. The rear-wheel steering also helped make the substantial car feel surprisingly manoeuvrable.

However, the car tested earlier this year was still undergoing software development, and the publication highlighted questions over how effectively its various driving modes and suspension settings worked. A final judgement on its handling will have to wait until a more complete production version can be driven.

That distinction matters. The Type 01 has shown promise, but there’s a difference between an encouraging prototype drive and a finished car that delivers consistently on the road.

A luxury interior that breaks the mould

Inside, Jaguar has continued its unconventional approach.

A prominent central console runs through the cabin, separating the occupants’ spaces, while carefully chosen textures and materials aim to create a more distinctive atmosphere than the screens-and-gloss-black-plastic interiors found in many modern cars.

There’s no conventional rear-view mirror or rear window. Instead, a digital rear-view system displays the view behind the car on a screen positioned above the dashboard.

The result is certainly different. But the dramatic design also brings practical compromises: despite its size and four doors, the Type 01 is closer to a 2+2 grand tourer than a spacious executive saloon.

For buyers expecting chauffeur-like rear-seat space, that could be a sticking point. For those who value design and a more intimate cabin, it may be part of the appeal.

The £130,000 question

At £130,000, the Type 01 enters a market where buyers have serious alternatives, including electric performance cars from Porsche and high-end luxury models from established prestige manufacturers.

Jaguar is betting that a combination of distinctive design, British engineering, performance and exclusivity will be enough to attract a new kind of customer.

That’s a significant gamble. The company has effectively abandoned its previous model range to make room for this new, all-electric direction. The Type 01 therefore needs to be more than a good car: it needs to establish the credibility of the entire new Jaguar brand.

Orders are expected to open in early 2027, with customer deliveries anticipated in summer 2027.

Has Jaguar pulled it off?

Three days after the reveal, the Type 01 has certainly achieved one thing: people are talking about Jaguar again.

But attention is not the same as success. The real test will be whether customers are prepared to spend six figures on a car that challenges their expectations of what a Jaguar should look like — and whether the finished product lives up to its considerable engineering promise.

There’s plenty here to be intrigued by. The performance figures are formidable, the dedicated EV platform shows genuine ambition, and the early driving impressions suggest this could be an exceptionally refined long-distance car.

Yet the styling, packaging and price will inevitably narrow its appeal. Jaguar isn’t trying to build an electric car for everyone, and it may not need to.

Our view? The Type 01 deserves to be judged as a car, not simply as the latest chapter in Jaguar’s controversial rebrand. If it delivers the comfort, refinement and driving character promised by its engineers, it could be a compelling new flagship.

If it doesn’t, no amount of attention-grabbing design will save it.

Jaguar has made its statement. Now it needs to prove it can deliver.

The post Jaguar Type 01: Brilliant Reinvention or £130,000 Gamble? appeared first on Independent UK Electric Car Reviews | AutoEV.

The Vauxhall Mokka has never really been a car enthusiasts talked about in hushed, reverential tones. Sensible? Yes. Stylish? Certainly. But exciting? That’s been a much harder sell.

So when Vauxhall announced it was reviving the famous GSE badge for the Mokka, plenty of people raised an eyebrow. Had they simply bolted on a more powerful motor and hoped the badge would do the rest?

That’s exactly the question Simon sets out to answer in our latest AutoEV review. After getting an early static look at the Mokka GSE last year, this is the first opportunity to discover whether the engineering lives up to the marketing—with drives on both the road and the Croft Circuit.

From the outside, the changes are understated. There’s no oversized spoiler or outrageous body kit. Instead, the Mokka GSE relies on subtle styling, a lower stance and carefully chosen details to hint that something rather more serious lies beneath. Under the skin, however, things become much more interesting.

Vauxhall hasn’t simply chased a quicker 0-60 time. The suspension has been extensively revised, the braking system upgraded, and perhaps most impressively of all, the Mokka GSE features a proper mechanical limited-slip differential—something rarely found in an electric crossover. It’s the sort of hardware that suggests this car has been engineered to enjoy corners just as much as traffic lights.

The day begins at Croft Circuit, where Simon gets to explore the car’s limits in a controlled environment before heading out onto demanding Yorkshire B-roads. Along the way there’s also an unexpected highlight: a passenger ride in the Mokka GSE Rally car, revealing just how closely related the competition machine is to the road-going version.

But does all this engineering actually translate into a genuinely enjoyable driving experience? Can a compact electric crossover really deserve to wear one of Vauxhall’s most respected performance badges? And how does it compare with increasingly impressive rivals like the Alpine A290 and Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce?

We’ll leave Simon’s final verdict for the video, but it’s fair to say the Mokka GSE delivers a few surprises along the way.

Watch the Full Review

So… don’t mock it. Before you dismiss the Mokka GSE as just another electric crossover with a bigger motor, watch Simon’s complete road and track review. You might find yourself looking at Vauxhall’s latest performance EV rather differently. Head over to the AutoEV YouTube channel to see the full test, and let us know in the comments whether you think the GSE badge has earned its place once again.

The post Vauxhall Mokka GSE appeared first on Independent UK Electric Car Reviews | AutoEV.

The post Leapmotor B10 Review: The Comfortable Choice? appeared first on Independent UK Electric Car Reviews | AutoEV.

In issue #1 of AutoEV we were very gratefully handed a Tesla Model S P100D by Tesla UK. To put our week of experience with the P100D simply, we were blown away by the Ludicrous mode, we loved the design, but one thing was lacking, and that was composition! The car just didn’t have a suspension set-up to rival the likes of it’s ICE competitors! This week, we were graced yet again by Tesla UK and were handed the keys to a Model 3 Performance. We spent a week using it for daily tasks, motorway runs, school runs, and runs down to the office.

But came the weekend, we decided to take the beast on a spurt down to the West Sussex countryside and put it to the test… We won’t talk much about our impressions of the car here, as an article on the Model 3 will be in issue #3 of the AutoEV magazine and we will have a road review of it on our YouTube channel soon! Here are some photos to show just how much enjoyment we got out of the little beast!

Watch the AutoEV YouTube review below:

The post Tesla Model 3: A Brief Blast around the Sussex Countryside! appeared first on Independent UK Electric Car Reviews | AutoEV.

We can change your mind! Introducing the Honda e prototype a ‘retro-esque’ designed micro car with a playful core. The new city car is clearly aimed at the younger generation, filled to the brim with technology, in a smooth and clean package that doesn’t ooze with ugly plastic buttons, but instead is cladded with wooden decks on the centre console and dashboard.

Digital side mirrors make yet another appearance, along with hidden door handles and a wrap around digital screen on the inside. To many, this car may look like a prototype (which it is, as of current). However, Honda claim this car is 98% relative to the production version, which we are expecting to land on our shores in late 2019. AutoEV magazine managed to blag a 1 on 1 interview with Ken Sahara (exterior designer) and Akinori Myoui (interior designer) to discuss the plans for the Honda E Prototype and the ideas behind it!

Where will the Honda EV fit into the lineup?

“We have a 2030 vision, to make 66% of our production models electric, so the E prototype is a part of the vision. From a European point of view, by 2025 100% of our models will be electrified, so this will be our first electric car for the European market”, Ken replied.

Who is the Honda E prototype designed for?

“So the Honda E prototype is designed for the urbanite, and the early adopter type of user. As well as the kind of person who loves new technologies and is living in a big city with little space. On the branding paper there is a 60 year old guy *laughs*, however, of course we want to attract younger people!”, Ken replied.

When are we expecting the Honda e prototype to be put into production?

“In Europe we are aspiring to start selling the car in late 2019, so very soon!”

The design is very modern, yet with a retro design, are there any cars that have inspired this?

“The E prototype is designed off of the 1970 Honda Civic, a Honda icon. We were designing the Urban EV concept at the same time as the E Prototype, which turned out to be inspired by the E Prototype, even though it was unveiled before the E Prototype”, Ken replied.

What was your main aim when designing the interior?

“Our main aim was to make the interior as simplistic as possible, not just in the styling but the ease of use, so that anyone can use it. We also wanted to offer the highest levels of technologies but in the easiest way to use them. Hence the large screens with an approachable format. It is designed for everyone to use!”, Akinori replied.

The design of the E Prototype definitely is something to desire, it really does strike a resemblance to the original Honda Civic from 1972, which features a wonderfully simple and classic design!

It’s always nice to see a brand look back on it’s history and proudly show their heritage off in their new designs, especially a company like Honda!

The post Honda e Prototype appeared first on Independent UK Electric Car Reviews | AutoEV.

The Jaguar I-PACE is a stand out competitor for the EV top spot, receiving flying colours in reviews and leaving many customers over the moon with their purchase. The I-PACE is Jaguar’s first step into the electric car market, however, you wouldn’t be able to tell this when looking over the car. Sporting a luxury interior that is top of its class and impressive technology, this car proves to be a good competitor. The interior is very spacious thanks to its cleverly packaged powertrain. The design language of the car is lavish and sleek, however, it isn’t all about design, electric cars must be reliable and boast a decent range… The I-PACE features a 90 kWh battery, which is good for over 200 miles on a full charge and can accelerate to 60mph in less than five seconds, which is impressive for the 2.2 tonne weight!

In conclusion, if you are looking for an elegant, sleek and opulent electric car with incredible practicality and performance to match, look no further than the Jaguar I-PACE. Yes the £64,000 price tag and low availability may be an eyebrow- raiser, but compare the I-PACE to the many other high priced EVs such as the Tesla Model X, this car matches up very well, at an equivalent price range!

Acceleration (0-62mph): 4.8 seconds
Top speed: 124 miles per hour
Real range: 298 miles
Charge time: (7KW) 13 hours

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