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Jaguar brings electric technology to old favorite

Jaguar is re-imagining a classic for the modern age. The automaker has announced it will build zero-emissions electric E-Types.

The E-Type was the British brand's two-door sports car during the 1960s and 1970s and it is considered one of Jaguar's most beautiful designs. Now, Jaguar Classic will offer tailor-made E-Types restored and converted to electric power at its facility in Coventry, England.

An EV conversion service for owners of existing E-Types will also be offered, but to preserve the authenticity of the base vehicle, the work can be fully reversed.

A concept vehicle, called the E-Type Zero has been shown and features a range of 170 miles with the charge coming from a 40 kWh battery. It can be recharged in six to seven hours, depending on the power source. The electric powertrain has been designed specifically for the E-Type, drawing on many I-PACE (the brand's all-new electric SUV) components.

The concept's lithium-ion battery pack has the same dimensions, and similar weight, to the standard E-Type's six-cylinder gas XK engine and is in the same location. That allows the suspension and brakes to remain unchanged, simplifying the conversion and keeping the driving experience in line with the original vehicle.

Jaguar says the electric version drives, handles, rides and brakes like an original E-Type with front-to-rear weight distribution unchanged.

Apart from its electric powertrain, LED headlights and modified instrumentation (showcasing the latest touch screen infotainment, which will be available as an option), the E-Type Zero concept is largely original. Full technical specs and pricing details are to be released soon with delivers of the first electric E-Types expected to start in summer 2020.

<h3 class="leadin">Porsche: Project Gold

Porsche Project Gold is based on a custom 2018 911 Turbo S but with an engine that pays homage to the Porsche 993 model, which ceased production in 1998. Courtesy of Porsche

Porsche stopped making its highly sought-after 993 model in 1998, marking the end of its air-cooled sports cars. The car's performance was legendary and to honor that tradition, Porsche Classic, the brand's restoration experts, have crafted something unique.

Over the last year and a half, the company has built a 911 powered by a 450-horsepower air-cooled engine, dubbing it Project Gold.

The body shell first went through the corrosion protection and painting process applied to today's series-production vehicles. It then was assembled and tuned by Porsche Classic specialists at the Porsche Classic restoration workshop near Stuttgart, Germany.

A new 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-six engine was created, delivering performance similar to that which a 993-generation Turbo S vehicle would have had while in production.

The manual transmission and all-wheel drive components were also sourced from the Porsche Classic range of genuine parts. The hand-stamped chassis number follows that of the last-production series, street-legal 993 Turbo that rolled off the production line in 1998.

Porsche has brought back the air-cooled engine for its Project Gold, a car that will be auctioned next month. Photos Courtesy of Porsche

The exterior and interior elements were coordinated with the workshop's Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur experts who were responsible for creating the 2018 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. The car was painted in Gold Yellow Metallic, the same color made for the 2018 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. There's also yellow highlights on the black wheels and seat and interior trim.

The car (which is not street legal) will make its world premiere at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sept. 27. From there, it'll be auctioned in a global event to be held by RM Sotheby's at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta on Oct. 27.

Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyherald.com.

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