As well as looking back with their electric E-Type revealed overnight, Jaguar have offered a glimpse into the future, saying by 2040 its cars will be 'electric, autonomous and made for sharing'.
To showcase its plans, the British manufacturer released a video of its ‘FUTURE-TYPE’ car that projects where motoring will be in nearly a quarter of a century’s time – and beyond.
While there's a lot of talk about driverless technology, motorists with an urge to take to the wheel will hopefully still be able to enjoy the joys the open road by over-riding the self-driving programme and doing some ‘DIY’ driving.
Even the steering wheel they use will be their own personal one which they take with them from car to car – calling up different vehicles to suit their mood, lifestyle or activity, whether work or play, says the British car-maker.
The car itself has an innovative narrow-body with a ‘semi-tandem’ 2+1 seating plan to optimise urban driving and parking, with ‘face-to-face social seating' during autonomous driving.
It's Jaguar’s crystal-ball gazing prediction of where they need to be to ‘meet the mobility needs of future generations’.
A Jaguar spokesman said: ’Our FUTURE-TYPE concept is Jaguar’s vision for an on-demand autonomous vehicle. It is fully autonomous but driveable, too.
‘In a future world of on demand and shared mobility, you may only fully own the steering wheel, not the car itself.’
‘The FUTURE-TYPE offers either autonomous or assisted driving because you may still want to enjoy the thrill of driving yourself.’
Jaguar says its advanced technologies will make for safer driving with a human behind the wheel.
’The Jaguar FUTURE-TYPE is a fully autonomous concept that imagines mobility in a world where Jaguar customers can summon a fully-charged FUTURE-TYPE on-demand,' the brand spokesperson claimed.
‘It offers a glimpse into the future. It is a car for a world of autonomous, connected, electric and shared mobility.’
At the heart of the car is what Jaguar calls ‘the world’s first intelligent and connected steering wheel'.
Director of design Ian Callum said: ‘FUTURE-TYPE offers an insight into the potential for driving and car ownership in the future. It’s part of our vision for how a luxury car brand could continue to be desirable, in a more digital and autonomous age.
‘It is an advanced research project looking at how we can ensure an on-demand Jaguar will appeal to customers in 2040 and beyond. Whether it’s commuting to work, autonomously collecting children from school or enjoying driving yourself on the weekend in the countryside, if there’s a choice of on-demand cars driving around city streets, we need to ensure customers desire our 24/7 service over our competitors.’
- Daily Mail