Daily Brief: Jaguar Electric GT 1000-bhp prototype, Europe’s EV pivot, and Hyundai targets 4Runner/Tacoma
I started the morning expecting a quiet inbox and ended up scribbling notes on the lid of my takeaway coffee. The headline? The Jaguar Electric GT finally let trusted eyes (and cheeks) experience its pace, Europe softened its hardline on combustion, and Hyundai appears ready to poke Toyota’s off-road icons with a very sturdy stick. Let’s unpack the lot, with a little lived-in context from years of creaking into test cars before sunrise.
Regulation reset: Europe softens the 2035 combustion ban
Multiple reports say Europe is rolling back the blanket 2035 ban on new combustion-car sales. That doesn’t mean a return to coal smoke and nostalgia—it suggests a broader path to decarbonization. Cleaner ICE, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and e-fuels all get longer runways alongside EVs.
What it means when you’re actually shopping
- Hybrids and PHEVs aren’t going away: Expect fresh launches into the early 2030s.
- EVs still have momentum: Charging and battery tech keep improving—now they’ll win you over on merit, not mandate.
- Resale values could settle: If you’ve been fretting about your V6 becoming unsellable overnight, breathe.
- E-fuels rise: Particularly relevant to performance and luxury brands safeguarding their heritage engines.
Jaguar Electric GT: the candid reboot
Credit to Jaguar: lately they’ve admitted the brand’s radical pivot wasn’t explained clearly enough. But cars speak louder than press releases. A few seasoned colleagues were treated to a high-speed run in a prototype—the Jaguar Electric GT, informally nicknamed “Type 00”—and came back grinning. The headlines: around 1000 bhp, a calm confidence at speed, and at least one veteran calling it “the best-riding car” they’d sampled after a 150-mph stretch. Big claim. But I get the vibe.
In mega-power EVs I’ve driven this year, the tell is ride quality and control. Blend the damping and regen braking just right, and a 2.5-ton missile shrinks around you. Flub it, and every ripple becomes a reminder of mass. The Jaguar Electric GT sounds like it’s chasing the first outcome. The cabin brief skews grand tourer: quiet miles, supportive seats, visibility you can live with in drizzle and darkness. If the seating position is spot-on and the view out doesn’t make you crane, the reinvention might land squarely where it should—driver first, lap time second.
Jaguar Electric GT: how it stacks up (on paper)
| Model | Power (claimed) | 0–60 mph (claimed) | Character sketch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar Electric GT (prototype) | ~1000 bhp | TBD | Long-legged GT, big ride sophistication |
| Porsche Taycan Turbo GT | ~1000+ hp (overboost) | ~2.1 sec | Track-tuned, unflappable brakes, ruthless pace |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | ~1020 hp | ~2.0 sec | Brutal straight-line, sparse cabin, easy charging |
| Lucid Air Sapphire | ~1200+ hp | ~1.9 sec | Luxury-first, monstrous thrust, big-mile comfort |
Jaguar Electric GT: what it must nail
- Ride/handling blend: the signature Jag glide without isolating you from the road.
- Brake feel: regen-to-friction handoff that’s seamless in town and consistent on a hard mountain descent.
- Cabin ergonomics: low scuttle, clear sightlines, intuitive controls—not “tablet-or-bust.”
- Charging curve: grand tourers live or die by how fast they recover miles on long trips.
Bentley’s first EV continues—deadline or no deadline
Bentley has eased off an EV-only deadline, but its first EV is still moving. That’s the right read of the luxury room. Bentley buyers worry less about 0–60 stats and more about time—how quickly it charges, how silent the cabin is, how effortlessly it moves with a car full of people and luggage. Expect obsessive work on charging curves, isolation, and that syrupy torque wave we all secretly adore in traffic.
Nismo goes broader across Nissan’s lineup
Look for Nismo badges to appear on more mainstream Nissans. Think calibrated dampers, smarter tires and brakes, maybe a tasteful power bump where the numbers make sense. Don’t be shocked to see electrified Nismo kit multiply—instant torque and torque-vectoring suit the badge more than purists might admit.
Hyundai is eyeing Toyota’s 4Runner and Tacoma
If reports are on the money, Hyundai’s cooking a body-on-frame SUV and a mid-size pickup to face down the segment leaders. Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? Not at all. The appetite for honest, go-anywhere trucks is red-hot.
What Hyundai must get right off-road
- Chassis tuning: body control on trails without punishing you on the school run.
- Powertrains: torquey turbo-six or hybrid torque makes towing and altitude painless.
- Packaging smarts: usable bed features, real tie-downs, a party-trick tailgate.
- Trail kit: lockers, crawl control, proper recovery points, and a camera that actually shows your corners.
Safety and tech: cars that care (when you might not)
Impairment detection edges closer
Driver-monitoring tech—eye-tracking cameras, steering-input analysis, even sensors that infer alcohol presence—are creeping from labs into showrooms. If implemented with a light touch, they’ll feel like a helpful hand on a bad day, not an electronic backseat driver.
Cybertruck’s U.S. safety nod, European questions
Tesla’s stainless wedge has earned a top safety rating stateside. Credit where it’s due: crash structure and active safety count. Europe’s pedestrian-protection focus is a different beat, and those sharp lines won’t make homologation teams sleep easier.
Community matters: Ford Australia backs Drive Against Depression
Smaller headline, big impact. Support means more organized drives, more outreach, and more people finding a few bright hours behind the wheel. You’d be surprised how many car conversations turn into lifelines after the coffee stop.
Global oddities: Japan’s other Honda Odyssey soldiers on
Not the American bus you know. The Japanese-market Odyssey—now sourced from China—keeps the low-slung, almost wagon-like MPV alive. It fits in tight garages, slides its doors without drama, and offers sensible, flat-floor space. Families in dense cities deserve this kind of option.
Quick hits
- Jaguar Electric GT will succeed or fail on chassis feel, not headline numbers.
- Bentley’s first EV has to “charge like a champ” and feel like a Mulsanne at 0 rpm.
- Nismo-tuned crossovers could be the fun antidote to beige commuting—without the insurance sting of a full-fat sports car.
Conclusion: why the Jaguar Electric GT matters
Flexibility is the theme. Regulators are easing the choke point, brands are sharpening their pitches, and the best cars are those that don’t force awkward compromises. The Jaguar Electric GT hints at a future where an electric grand tourer feels natural—quiet, deft, and fast for hours. If Jaguar nails the seating, visibility, and that magic ride-handling blend, it won’t need a podium time to win you over—just a long road and a reason to take it.
FAQ: Jaguar Electric GT and more
Did Europe really roll back the 2035 combustion ban?
Reports indicate policymakers are moving away from a blanket ban, keeping the door open for cleaner ICE, hybrids, PHEVs, and e-fuels alongside EVs.
When will the Jaguar Electric GT be revealed?
No firm public date yet. Development is clearly advanced—select outlets have already had early prototype rides.
How much power will the Jaguar Electric GT have?
Jaguar hasn’t issued final numbers, but early briefings point to roughly 1000 bhp. Acceleration times and range are still TBD.
What will the Jaguar Electric GT cost?
Pricing isn’t announced. Expect it to compete in the same rarefied air as Taycan Turbo GT and Lucid Air Sapphire.
Is Bentley still going ahead with an EV?
Yes. Even without committing to an EV-only deadline, Bentley’s first EV remains in development, with focus on charging performance and cabin serenity.
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