Epic 1400kW Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo SV unveils Jag's future

Jaguar has revealed a new pure-electric racer it has created for the Gran Turismo race game and which is set to preview the future design direction of the British car-maker.

The virtual racer, called the Jaguar Gran Turismo SV, was unveiled overnight and is rumoured to be so important a full-scale model based on it has been made to judge feedback around the world.

Beneath its svelte skin that's thought will inspire the replacement for the Jaguar F-TYPE, the online endurance racer comes equipped with four electric motors that, between them, pump out a heroic 1400kW and 3250Nm of torque.

That's enough for a theoretical 0-60mph (0-97km/h) acceleration in just 1.65 seconds and a top speed of 410km/h.

But beyond the made-up performance stats, Autocar claims that real thinking has gone into the Gran Turismo racer's creation in a bid to ensure it inspires the car-maker's next-generation models.

Said to contain subtle references to the C-Type, D-Type, XJR-9 and XJR-14 of the past, the GT SV features some important design cues that will make an appearance in the near future on production models.

These include narrower Jaguar J headlamps and a new grille design that are set to be employed on the face of future Jag EVs.

Under its skin, engineers have ensured real Formula E-derived electric motors (one for each wheel) could be packaged, with each motor driving an individual wheel using a single-speed transmission.

Potentially the basis of Jaguar's next-gen EV powertrain tech, the one-motor-per-wheel set-up allows accurate torque distribution across axles, as well as front-to-rear.

The concept has also been engineered virtually to offer a 50:50 weight distribution and features a liquid nitrogen battery cooling system that allows full power to be deployed for long periods.

Aerodynamics have also played a key role in the Jaguar Gran Turismo SV's creation. Using the same modelling techniques employed for Formula E, the racer's claimed 0.398Cd drag coefficient is remarkable for a race car that can generate more than 483kg of downforce at 320km/h.

Some of the new tricks employed include a huge rear wing that has moveable flaps on the trailing edge to add downforce during braking or cut drag near its top speed.

Inside, the GT SV's cabin is pure race car, with the model set for a pair of seats made from a new carbon-fibre-like material that's sourced from recycled old Formula E racers.

You can also expect the new sustainable composite to reappear on future models.

“Jaguars for the race track and the road have always shared the same DNA,” said Jaguar head of design Julian Thomson.

Commenting on the new GT SV, he added that it “showcases what’s possible when the traditional boundaries governing real-world car design are completely removed”.