Jaguar goes green by unveiling latest electric I-Pace concept car at Los Angeles Motor Show

At the same time the company's Indian owners have revealed a £200m hike in profits over the last six months as sales of its cars continue to accelerate.

Now the West Midlands-based luxury car maker is aiming to tear up the rule book by creating a concept with supercar looks, sports car performance and SUV space, in one electric package.

It gave invited guests including James Corden, Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr and David Gandy a close-up look at the new car through an immersive virtual reality experience in both LA and London. The real car will be on display at the motor show tomorrow.

Like its best-selling sister F-Pace – powered by Wolverhampton-built diesel engines – the I-Pace aims to be both a smart, five-seat sports car and a performance SUV.

It will be a long distance sprinter that accelerates to 60mph in around four seconds, with a range of more than 500km – more than 300 miles – and rapid charging of of its 90kWh lithium-ion battery, which can get up to full charge in about two hours.

There's no price tag yet but Jaguar says production versions of the I-Pace will on the road in 2018.

Jaguar's director of design, Ian Callum, said: "The I-Pace concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design. It's a dramatic, future-facing cab-forward design with a beautiful interior – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA, electric technology and contemporary craftsmanship.

"Our virtual reality reveal today has pushed technology boundaries as well."

The new car builds on continuing demand for its new F-Pace Jaguar, the XE, Evoque, Discovery Sport and the Discovery 4x4.

Rising sales in the six months to the end of September translates into revenue of £11.4 billion - more than £1.5bn up on the same period last year.

Half year pre-tax profit was up to £679 million, compared to £481m a year ago.

JLR has also benefited by comparison with the damage to its figures caused by the Tianjin disaster last year. The fire and explosion at the Chinese port city cost the company a potential £245m, although it hopes to get most of the money back through insurance.

Sales over the last three months were up across the board in its biggest markets – in the UK, Europe, North America and China – while its new Chinese factory has seen sales rise by more than 160 per cent just in the last three months - adding another £33m to profits.

The figures were released by the group's Indian parent company, Tata Motors, which saw its own profits dragged down despite JLR's stronger performance after a £400m hit from currency movements and hedging.