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It sounds like something out of a Hollywood action movie, but in 2017 Jaguar actually pulled it off: a production SUV completing a 270-degree barrel roll live at an event. The stunt launched the E-PACE, a compact crossover that was then Jaguar's gateway model, and it set a Guinness World Record that still stands today.
The stunt that broke physics
On June 14, 2025, we revisit the jaw-dropping moment when Jaguar's E-PACE – driven by British stunt veteran Terry Grant – soared through a 15-metre gap, rotating 270 degrees in mid-air before landing cleanly on all four wheels. The venue was London's ExCeL arena, one of the few spaces large enough to host a 160-metre run-up and a safe run-off.
The jump required months of preparation. Jaguar's engineering team used CAD models to design the ramp, then tested the car's suspension, weight distribution, and aerodynamics to ensure it could handle the extreme G-force – 5.5g at the peak of the rotation. The car was a pre-production E-PACE, essentially the same as what customers would later drive, making the record especially impressive: "Farthest barrel roll in a production vehicle."
Why Jaguar did it
At the time, Jaguar was expanding its "PACE" family – the F-PACE had already done a loop-the-loop stunt in 2015. The E-PACE needed a similarly dramatic launch to announce its arrival in the crowded compact luxury SUV segment. The barrel roll wasn't just a publicity gimmick; it was a statement of engineering confidence. If the car could survive a 5.5g corkscrew, it could handle anything real-world roads threw at it.
But the timing was also significant. Jaguar had just begun its transition towards electrification. The E-PACE would later be offered as a plug-in hybrid, and today the brand is fully committed to an all-electric future. The barrel roll remains a benchmark of what Jaguar was capable of in the internal-combustion era.
The driver: Terry Grant's perspective
Terry Grant, known for his work in films and live stunt shows, said at the time: "As far as I am aware, no production car has ever cleanly completed a bona‑fide barrel roll, and therefore it has always been an ambition of mine to perform one ever since I was a boy." He had previously driven the F-PACE through a loop-the-loop, but the barrel roll demanded even more precision.
The jump required entering the ramp at exactly the right speed – too fast and the car would overshoot, too slow and it wouldn't complete the rotation. Grant's experience and the team's data analysis made the difference.
A warning from Jaguar
Jaguar later released the official video on YouTube with a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer: "Do not attempt this at home." The message was clear – the stunt was a one-off, meticulously planned and executed by professionals. No one wants to roll their own SUV onto its roof trying to break a world record.
What happened to the E-PACE?
The E-PACE went on sale later in 2017 and was a solid seller for Jaguar, offering a more affordable entry point than the larger F-PACE. However, as Jaguar pivots to an all-electric lineup, the E-PACE was discontinued in 2024, along with the rest of the combustion models. The barrel roll remains a defining moment of the model's legacy.
Why it still matters
Today, as Jaguar prepares to launch its first dedicated electric vehicle under a new brand strategy, the barrel roll serves as a reminder of the company's engineering heritage. It's also a case study in how automakers can blend automotive capability with live entertainment – a tactic that's become less common as budgets tighten and safety regulations tighten.
The Guinness World Record has not been beaten by any other production car since 2017. The E-PACE's barrel roll remains a unique achievement in automotive history – a moment when physics seemed to bend, if only for a few seconds.
Note: This article was updated on June 14, 2025, to reflect Jaguar's current electric transition and the E-PACE's discontinuation.
