Car company unveils classic electric Jag
A COMPANY which makes electric versions of classic British cars has unveiled the world’s first electric classic Jaguar made with ocean clean-up textiles. Electric vehicles made by Lunaz are super exclusive and designed for customers with very deep pockets.
Lunaz unveiled a very special customer commission - a 1952 Jaguar XK120 that was originally made in Coventry handed over at the Concours on Savile Row in London. The car presented a world-first for a project of this type - a leather-free interior that utilises ocean clean-up materials.
This included carpets woven from reclaimed nylon sea-fishing nets. Additionally, the backing of these carpets was upcycled from marine plastic pollution such as plastic bottles.
The process of reclaiming waste materials from the ocean is already being successfully utilised in the worlds of fashion, fine furniture making and high-end watch manufacturing. Personalisation is at the heart of every Lunaz build, falling to an in-house design department led by Lunaz design director, Jen Holloway.
She and her team work in close collaboration with customers to understand their aesthetic and personal sensibilities. In the case of this very special build, the client visited Lunaz throughout the commissioning and specification process to understand the way alternatives to leather and innovative upcycled materials perform from a visual and comfort perspective.
This close collaboration yielded an interior finished in an innovative blend of textiles, traditional woods and upcycled materials. For example, the seat frame was constructed
from recyclable aluminium.
The burr walnut veneer wood was given a contemporary aesthetic through a satin lacquer. Wherever possible, material from the 70-year-old vehicle was painstakingly restored to minimise the requirement to create new materials.
Lunaz’ team of engineers subtly integrated the latest infotainment and audio technology into the vehicle. This included the discreet placement of a screen installed with Apple Carplay to operate the client’s preferred navigation and music streaming apps.
Lunaz’ founder David Lorenz said: “Lunaz customers delight in every element of the commissioning, design, restoration and electrification process. To reflect the conclusion of this long and involved journey we like to create something special related to the build.”
The Jaguar XK120, one of the most celebrated evocations of British sportscar design was unveiled at the Concours on Savile Row, a street universally understood as the global centre of traditional and contemporary tailoring. The company is among one of the fastest growing in Britain and has attracted investment from leading institutional names including the Barclay, Dalal and Reuben families and David Beckham.
The former footballer recently handed his son Brooklyn a 1954 Jaguar XK140 upcycled and electrified by Lunaz to mark his marriage to Nicola Peltz following their wedding in Florida. Luanz Design is in production with the most celebrated British marques, this includes the Aston Martin DB6, Bentley Continental (S1, S2 and S3), Jaguar XK120,140,150, Range Rover Classic and Rolls-royce Silver Cloud and Rolls-royce Phantom V.