The secret XJ EV that Jaguar doesn't want you to see just leaked.
It's the automotive equivalent of finding your Christmas presents early – except this gift got returned before it ever made it under the tree.
The Ghost of Jaguar Future Past
Jaguar's X391 prototype – the electric XJ that never was – has finally broken cover through leaked images from 2020.
This stillborn luxury sedan died in 2021 before ever seeing showroom lights.
Built on Jaguar's MLA platform, the prototype carried traditional Jaguar styling DNA that the brand has now violently rejected. Retractable door handles. Familiar grille. Charging port neatly integrated into the rear quarter panel.
All destined for the crusher.
What Jaguar's Building Instead
Jaguar's new direction involves a clean-sheet electric 4-door GT that shares nothing with the canceled XJ.
The new flagship rides on Jaguar's proprietary JEA platform and targets the ultra-luxury EV segment where BMW's i7 and Mercedes EQS play.
Heavily camouflaged test mules hint at radical styling that breaks from Jaguar's heritage. The iconic leaper mascot? Dead. Replaced by simple "JAGUAR" badging front and rear.
The specifications, however, suggest Jaguar isn't playing around:
- 580 horsepower and 435-mile range from its electric powertrain
- 13-minute charging from 10% to 80% capacity
- Ultra-thin LED headlights and minimalist exterior design
- Sustainable luxury materials throughout the cabin
- $125,000 starting price, positioning it firmly in the premium segment
Formula E to Formula Road
Jaguar's electric transformation leverages its Formula E racing experience, translating track technology directly to street vehicles.
The early design concepts have proven controversial among enthusiasts. Neo-retro styling elements have polarized opinion, with many questioning if Jaguar has abandoned too much of its heritage.
We'll see the full vision on December 2, 2024, when Jaguar officially reveals its next chapter during Miami Art Week.
The leaked X391 prototype represents what could have been – a more evolutionary approach to electrification. What we're getting instead is revolution, not evolution.
Jaguar is betting its future that luxury buyers want something radical rather than recognizable.
Bold move for a brand built on heritage.
