Last week, Jaguar unveiled the Type 01, with actor Florence Pugh helping to launch the luxury electric grand tourer in New York. It was a chance to examine some of the unusual interior tech, including a panoramic soundbar, seats with built-in speakers and haptic audio, and a rear-view display that does away with the traditional mirror.
The car’s dashboard is dominated by a single 24in OLED screen that combines the instrument display and infotainment functions. A separate 7in touchscreen between the front seats provides quick access to frequently used functions, including climate and audio controls, while rear passengers get their own 7in portrait display for adjusting comfort settings.
Jaguar has tried to keep the technology from overwhelming the minimalist cabin, with controls and storage concealed until needed. A voice assistant is designed to understand natural, multi-step spoken commands, allowing drivers to manage charging sessions, operate the powered charging port and plan routes around charging locations. It also handles general conversation and provides weather and journey information in 18 languages.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, alongside wireless device charging, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot supporting up to eight devices and an Online Pack providing access to music and video streaming apps.
But the headline audio feature is the Jaguar Immersive Sound System, developed with Meridian. Its 38 speakers include a full-width, full-range Panoramic Soundbar running across the dashboard at the base of the windscreen.
The soundbar itself incorporates 13 speakers, with a further 25 concealed throughout the cabin, including speakers in the front headrests. The arrangement creates an immersive soundstage while allowing Jaguar to dispense with conventional front-door speakers, helping preserve the clean lines of the interior.
The system uses eight Meridian technologies and has been tuned specifically for the Type 01. Rather than simply filling the cabin with sound, the layout is designed to distribute it evenly around occupants throughout the car’s unusually long interior.
Then there’s Sensory Audio, which adds a physical dimension to the listening experience. Integrated into the front seats, the system lets the driver and front passenger feel the music as well as hear it, with individually adjustable intensity ranging from a subtle sensation to more pronounced vibrations synchronised with the soundtrack.
The seats themselves add to the sensory theme, with heating, cooling and a hot-stone massage effect. Jaguar is clearly hoping that a long journey will feel less like time spent in traffic and more like a session in a rather expensive listening room.
The soundbar also houses Jaguar’s ClearSight Rear View Display, which replaces the conventional rear-view mirror with a digital screen fed by a rear-facing camera. Positioned in the driver’s natural line of sight, it is designed to reduce the need to refocus when switching between the road ahead and the view behind. A 3D Surround Camera system provides additional assistance when manoeuvring.
Cabin refinement is supported by Active Road Noise Cancellation and dual-isolated drive units, while Cabin Air Purification Pro is designed to help reduce allergens, toxins and harmful particulates. A fragrance diffuser allows occupants to tailor the cabin’s scent, and the panoramic glass roof features an adjustable virtual sunshade.
Jaguar has yet to reveal full pricing, although a figure of US$130,000 (£98,209 approx) has been rumoured, with the Type 01 expected to reach customers in 2027. Its technology makes one thing clear: the brand’s new idea of luxury extends well beyond leather, polished trim and a big badge. It wants the cabin to look different, sound different and, apparently, even feel different.
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