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Electrifi, the Irish electric car company dedicated to converting classic cars to electric power, has teamed up with UK-based Evolution to produce a run of electrically-powered Jaguar E-Types.
The E-Type, one of the most iconic sports cars of all time, will have its original straight-six engine and gearbox removed, and replaced by a battery and electric motor powertrain. Because the electric components are designed to slot into the same space occupied by the engine, there's no need for structural modifications, so the car can be easily returned to its original petrol-powered spec if required.
The two companies have agreed a five-year partnership which is worth €40 million to Powerscourt-based Electrifi. Evolution is only one of two companies worldwide who offers a range of highly developed classic Jaguar E-types, steel or aluminium in a variety of body shapes and engine sizes, all hand-built of the finest quality, redeveloped to be safer, stylish and a more reliable vehicle.
The cars will cost a whopping €850,000 each, and will be in direct competition to a planned run of all-electric E-Types being readied by Jaguar itself.
Norman Crowley, founder and CEO of Electrifi's parent company Crowley Carbon said: "It's like the old adage, quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. Like Henry Ford, a captain of the American car industry who hailed not far from my homeplace of Clonakilty in West Cork, we have ensured Electrifi hasn't wasted any time, moving as quickly and as quietly as the high-performance Hypercars we are planning to produce.
"There is also a special link closer to home with this amazing car. Fellow Corkman, Duncan Hamilton, best-known for excelling in the golden age of motorsport in the 1950's, pulled off a sensational victory in the iconic Le Mans 24-hour race in 1953 as part of the Jaguar team of the day," said Crowley. "With the partnership of Electrifi and Evolution E-Types, we are just helping breath life back into these classics by building modern and sustainable technology into the very heart of these cars for the twenty-first century."
The aim is for the electric powertrain to produce around 450hp - almost 200hp more than the most powerful original E-Types - and all the cars will come with electric power steering, air conditioning, vented disc brakes with 20-piston calipers, and enhanced suspension.
Projected performance figures are 0-100km/h in around 4.0 seconds, and a top speed of 280km/h.
Interestingly, Electrifi says that the "Evolution Electrifi Jaguar E-type will be available as an aluminium bodied roadster with hood, hardtop or fixed head coupe" which suggests that the bodies will be significantly modified, as all original E-Types were made of steel, with only the 'Lightweight' racing models getting aluminium bodies. Evolution, which makes both parts for E-Types and modified 'restomod' cars, already offers an aluminium body for the car.
Production of the electric E-Types will begin next year.