Forget the exterior, the Jaguar Type 01’s interior is the real talking point
We’re seeing the interior of the Jaguar Type 01 for the first time, and while it doesn’t exactly erase the controversy surrounding its exterior, it does give us something else to talk about.
In the name of chasing minimalism, the Type 01’s interior does away with much of the normal excess we’ve come to see in modern luxury cars. Instead, it features what looks like a dramatic central spine that runs the length of the cabin. It does look great, although I’m not convinced it’s the most practical use of space, particularly when we know how much room these raised centre sections can eat into.
There’s also a slim dashboard with concealed technology and flowing surfaces to create a cabin that Jaguar says feels more like a piece of architecture than a conventional car interior.
The entire cabin, if the images are to be believed, follows the same minimalist approach with what looks like a sizeable digital ClearSight Rear View Display positioned centrally at the base of the windscreen, at the same height as the door mirror to help the driver maintain focus. There are also what seem like membrane-style buttons on the steering wheel, while the door panels also appear clean and uncluttered.
The most interesting part has to be the seats. They look big, heavily sculpted and finished in a combination of perforated light-coloured upholstery and contrasting textile-like material around their edges. Jaguar has also included a large, full-length panoramic glass roof for a feeling of space.
Whether all of this translates into a genuinely convincing luxury car remains to be seen leading up to this year’s Monterey Car Week, when the prototype is set to make its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours on 16 August. As for the real test, it will come when Jaguar reveals the production car in New York on 6 October.
