EXCLUSIVE: Very interesting all-electric lineup coming in 2025, says Jaguar PH head

Think Jaguar and many of us recall glamorous luxury cars with acres of polished timber and vast swathes of buttery-soft leather.

Whether it was the Mark 2, the Mark X or the XJ6, these sleek saloons, with their plush and stylish cockpits, made their German counterparts from BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz look like staid and upright boxes.

Younger car lovers, meanwhile, would recognize “Jags” like the record-breaking XJ220 and the F-Type for their standout styling and blistering performance.

But for the president of the official importer and distributor of Jaguar and Land Rover in the Philippines, the best is yet to come.

“I can't tell you much about the cars, but ‘WOW’ is all I gotta say,” said Coventry Motors Corporation president Chris Ward in an exclusive interview with AutoFun Philippines.

Although he remained mum about the details, Ward was referring to Jaguar’s upcoming all-electric car lineup, which is expected to debut globally in 2025.

Preparing for the electric shift

On December 2021, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bollore announced that the British carmaker would phase out all of its current models by 2025. It would also not release any new cars until then.

In an industry where annual updates help drive interest and sales, this was a bombshell.

“We're in an amazing time in the industry right now because we are in this transition from petrol and diesel engines, transitioning in the next five-to-10 years to all-electric,” Ward explained. 

“The whole industry's going that way and Jaguar is no different,” he added. “We have made a statement that we will continue with our current range of cars until 2025. It's a very interesting future and we've got some really interesting cars coming for customers to migrate to.”

Jaguar’s current line-up is a mix of gasoline and diesel sedans and sport-utility vehicles (SUV), which include the XE, XF, E-Pace, F-Pace, and the F-Type sports car.

Jaguar Philippines also currrently sells the P7.69-million I-PACE SUV, which is the brand's first all-electric vehicle. AutoFun Philippines content head Mikko David was able to try it out with Ward in Tagaytay.

Distinct Jaguar identity to remain

Ward said despite the shift to electric powertrains, he expects the brand to stay true to its 80-year heritage.

“We've been in that kind of premium performance market for some time, both with our saloons and our sports cars,” he said. “And really, moving forward, that's still the aim because we have a presence in that space.”

“We want to continue to broaden that DNA of the brand, but also attract a specific type of customer,” Ward added. “Somebody who's looking for something a little bit different, a bit more of an expression of who they are.”

Ward said it is Jaguar’s long-running uniqueness that continues to attract buyers.

“We do interiors different from other brands,” he said. “It's a beautiful place to be inside the car. But also, we don't lose sight of what the driver wants out of the car, but we're not losing sight of the passenger, as well. It has got to be a comfortable ride for everybody.”

Are you excited about Jaguar’s all-electric lineup?