Earlier today, we all continued our Jag-madness when the first images of the Jaguar Type 00 concept were leaked. Our own genuinely-British car designer gave us a fantastic rundown on the design, but in the released pictures, there was one that I find genuinely confusing. That one up top there. What the hell are we looking at?
The picture in question seems to be showing what is behind a panel just aft of the front wheel arch on the left side of the car. There’s a brassy-colored band below it, emblazoned with the Jaguar leaper, which remains on the bodywork as the body-colored panel opens above it.
You can see the area in question here, where the gold rectangle is:
…and here’s what the panel looks like when opened:
What I want to know is what the hell are we looking at inside there? What are those things?
Are they some sort of fitted luggage? Is that what that thing that resembles a tallish barn on its side is? And is that some kind of thin valise below it? I don’t see any sort of handles or anything so I’m really not sure. If it is luggage, is this access to the front luggage compartment?
If so, is that really the best way to do that? Unless the volume of space in there is really small, why would you choose to have your luggage accessed like this? Is that black corrugated bit a sort of roll-up cover? It looks like some sort of arm that holds the body panel swings out from the black corrugated part, which means the access hole is even smaller, if it is a luggage volume?
Is it equipment of some kind, perhaps some sort of charging equipment? Does a charging cable unfurl from one of those pale-pink whatevers?
I mean, historically, that area of cars can have interesting stuff; for example, the Horch 930 S had a freaking sink that popped out of that area!
…and, of course, that’s where Bristols hid their spare tires:
… but whatever is going on here is definitely neither sink nor tire.
So, what the hell is going on under that panel? I guess we’ll find out at the Jag reveal event tonight, but I want us to guess, dammit. So have at it! Let’s speculate! Speculate like a speculum!
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Of course that’s the flux capacitor!
For when the owner wants to go back in time to when JAAAAAAG made beautiful cars after they realize how much of a bad decision they made buying this ugly piece of junk EV!
According to car and driver, they’re magical stones used to change the drive mode. I am not joking. IMO these having an actual car function is the weirdest possible outcome.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63071885/jaguar-type-00-concept-revealed/
Instead of drive modes, Jaguar created a unique way to change the experience inside the Type 00, which it calls “totems.” There are three totems, which live inside the “Prism case” accessed from the exterior behind a powered panel just ahead of the doors. Each totem is constructed of a different material: brass, travertine, and alabaster.
The totems are placed into a slot next to the brass spine in the center console. The white upholstery opens to reveal a cubby with a vibrant blue hue, reminiscent of the color inside the retractable storage bin in the Cadillac Lyriq’s dashboard. Each totem alters features such as ambient lighting and screen graphics. It also plays a unique soundscape and releases scents. Jaguar suggested that bespoke totems could be tailored to individual customers, although the company stopped short of confirming the totems will appear in production cars.
It’s a jumpseat for when that brat (your wife’s son) in the back asks “Are we there yet?” one time too many.
“That’s it, Johnny! Go sit outside!”