Jaguar’s £140k EV spotted testing in the Arctic Circle as preparations for the

Jaguar has moved to quash rumours it is considering a U-turn on its all-electric reboot by releasing images of its new battery-powered £140,000 luxury four-door GT undergoing winter testing ahead of its summer unveiling.

Reports emerged last month that bosses had instructed engineers in Britain to develop a hybrid drivetrain over growing concerns potential customers with range anxiety might not want its new breed of EVs.

But having since rubbished the speculation, the British brand – now owned by Indian giant Tata Motors – has leaked a selection of images and footage of its first ‘new Jaguar’ taking to the ice in Lapland months before it’s due to be revealed fully.

A selection of Jaguar’s 150 electric prototypes have been pictured gliding over the snow and ice in the Arctic Circle as part of its ‘extreme winter tests’ conducted in temperatures as low as minus 40°C.

Jaguar says the aim of the assessments is to ‘push every system to its limits to deliver the most technically advanced and powerful Jaguar production car ever made’. 

Rawdon Glover, Jaguar’s managing director, added: ‘Our aim from the outset has been to deliver a true Jaguar driving experience and we have crafted a hugely desirable car that will be as captivating to drive as it is to look at.’ 

Jaguar’s £140k four-door luxury GT car – the model that will spearhead the brand’s electric-only reboot – has been spotted testing in the Arctic Circle just months before it is due to be unveiled and available for order

The Porsche Macan-rivalling electric grand tourer has been shown sliding over the frozen lakes of Arjeplog in Sweden – a popular location for car makers wanting to put their vehicles to the ultimate test before rolling them out into showrooms.

Jaguar is using the glacial conditions to validate its ‘ThermAssist’ technology that will feature in all its forthcoming electric cars. 

This is an onboard thermal management system that claims to reduce heating energy consumption by up to 40 per cent, and aims to recover heat to warm the battery or cabin when ambient temperatures plummet as low as minus 10°C. 

The system should reduce the debilitating impact of freezing conditions on the car’s range, which has yet to be confirmed but said to be in the region of 400 miles on a full battery charge.

Yet, Jaguar says the aim of the Arctic Circle test is not just to ensure the car’s batteries, charging systems and electric motors endure brutally chilly temperatures.

A selection of Jaguar’s 150 electric prototypes have been pictured gliding over the snow and ice as part of its ‘extreme winter tests’ conducted in temperatures as low as minus 40°C 

Travelling to the Arctic Circle, Jaguar engineers are hoping to ensure the car’s batteries, charging systems and electric motors can endure brutally chilly temperatures and continue to operate as they should

The Porsche Macan-rivalling electric grand tourer has been shown sliding over the frozen lakes of Arjeplog in Sweden 

This has become an increasingly popular location for car makers wanting to put their prototype vehicles to the ultimate test before rolling them out into showrooms

It too provides its engineers the ideal grounds to ‘refine the distinct characteristics of the four-door GT’s drive modes’ to ensure it delivers ‘instinctive responses and calming comfort’. 

It added: ‘It will drive like no other electric car thanks to a suite of electric propulsion technologies. True to the spirit of Jaguar.’

In December, the Daily Mail and This is Money was granted exclusive access to the all-new electric Jag during a behind-closed-doors preview at its Gaydon facility. 

It was revealed to us that the GT will develop more than 1,000 horsepower, easily making it the most potent Jaguar road car ever made. 

We also learned that it will deploy advanced all-wheel-drive technology.

 This sees the combination of a tri-motor setup and Intelligent Torque Vectoring to ensure the car’s electronic brain knows when and where to put the power to guarantee an engaging – and safe – drive.

The Arctic Circle conditions are also being used to help Jag’s engineers ‘refine the distinct characteristics of the four-door GT’s drive modes’ to ensure it delivers ‘instinctive responses and calming comfort’

The brand said: ‘It [the four-door GT] will drive like no other electric car thanks to a suite of electric propulsion technologies’ and will be ‘true to the spirit of Jaguar’

In December, the Daily Mail and This is Money was granted exclusive access to the all-new electric Jag during a behind-closed-doors preview at its Gaydon facility. It was revealed to us that the GT will develop more than 1,000 horsepower

The team developing the vehicle also showed us in a short passenger ride the abilities of…