It has been 40 years since production of the much-admired Jaguar E-Type was halted. Last year C-X16 caused a stir at the motor show in Frankfurt, but the F-Type is set to cause an even bigger sensation. Jaguar announced at the New York auto show that a new entry-level sports car will come to market next year and that it will indeed carry the F-Type moniker.
A hard-top version will follow but Britain’s Indian-owned sports-luxury brand is to capitalise on the car’s expected June launch date by launching in soft-top guise first. Both will be strict two-seaters.
First picture of the camouflaged Jaguar F-Type revealed at the New York Auto Show
At the moment, details are a little sketchy because it’s not due to go on sale until mid-2013, but we do know it will appear as a canvas-roofed convertible first and virtually unchanged from the C-X16 concept car. Other than the missing roof, obviously, and some minor aero tweaks like a pop-up spoiler.
Performance wise, it’s believed that the aluminium model will offer a top speed of over 180 mph and a 0-60 mph range of under five seconds. No other official details have been confirmed, though Jaguar’s press release confirms that a range of engines will be available, including a new powerplant family.
For reference, the C-X16 concept came with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 – good for 376 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque – matched with a “Push to Pass” hybrid system controlled by a steering wheel-mounted button that delivers an additional 92 hp and 173 lb-ft of twist when pressed.
Full details of the F-type will be fully revealed later in 2012, most likely at autumn’s Paris motor show. Sales will begin in the middle of 2013, with the car’s production taking place at Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant in the UK.
In meanwhile scroll down for the official press release and to watch a short video featuring former Formula 1 star Martin Brundel, which gave some hints about the F-Type’s styling.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIlc39tVaVo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tzrf89FgN4[/youtube]
Press Release:
JAGUAR ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW SPORTS CAR: THE JAGUAR F-TYPE
- The all-new Jaguar F-TYPE sports car will expand the Jaguar model line
- As the largest sports car market in the world, the United States will be a prime market
- The Jaguar “Alive” campaign accelerates with this new product announcement
NEW YORK (April 4, 2012) – Today at the New York International Auto Show, Jaguar formally announced that an all-new sports car will enter production; the Jaguar F-TYPE. A true two-seat sports car, the Jaguar F-TYPE will launch as a convertible becoming the fourth model in the current line of innovative and seductive cars, along with the XF sports sedan, the XJ luxury sedan and the XK coupe/convertible.
Benefitting from Jaguar’s leading expertise in aluminum vehicle construction, the Jaguar F-TYPE will focus uncompromisingly on delivering a rewarding drive experience. A range of engines will be available, including a new powerplant family. All will deliver stunning sports car performance.
Speaking at the New York auto show Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars, confirmed: “We showed the C-X16 concept in September 2011, and the reaction to it has been so positive that we’ve accelerated our development of an all-new Jaguar sports car. That car will be called the Jaguar F-TYPE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year. The core appeal of Jaguar’s cars is their sporting heart, and that heart will beat stronger than ever before in the F-TYPE. Its development is a vivid representation of the confidence and ambition of the Jaguar brand, and the desire amongst our engineers and design team to produce a world-leader in a market segment that we have been absent from for too long. But no longer, the F-TYPE is coming.”
This day also marks the point at which the rigorous development program for the Jaguar F-TYPE moves into the final road testing phase. Engineering prototypes are now being placed into service at Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant in the British Midlands. This is the same plant at which will build the production car.
Ian Hoban, Jaguar’s Vehicle Line Director said: “The engineering development of the F-TYPE has focused on delivering a heightened level of dynamic driving reward. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved.”
Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: “A true sports car needs to be pure in both its purpose and its form; to have the opportunity to produce such a car for Jaguar has been a privilege both for myself and for my team. The C-type, D-type and E-type Jaguars were all sports cars that held true to this principle in their era, and the F-TYPE will hold true to that same principle in its time, a time that is soon to arrive.”
Full Jaguar F-TYPE technical and model range details will be announced later in 2012. It will go on sale in mid-2013.
