What The F-Type?
Published: January 22nd, 2009
Share
Autoexpress has been saying for some time that Jaguar’s rumored new sportscar will be more XJ220 than F-Type concept. Now, they say they are “lifting the lid” on an Audi R8-fighting sportscar that Jag still refuses to aknowledge. The highlights? A 500+ hp supercharged V8, Ian Callum styling (hinted at here in a rendering by beyond-form), light weight construction on an all-new aluminium platform, and a concept debut pegged at about 18 months from now. Bloody good, but does it mean they can’t build the F-Type too?
More by Edward Niedermeyer
Comments
Join the conversation
Chuckgoolsbee: While the XJ220 was a financial mistake, it did not underdeliver in any sense except the most superficial. It was the world's fastest production car until the McLaren F1, with a top speed of 217mph. The problem with the XJ220 had little to do with the car and a lot to do with people (most notably the people at Jaguar itself) expecting something different from what came out. It was brilliant anyways, faster with the turbo V6 than it would have been with a V12, but it came out at the wrong time and didn't give people enough to brag about. The XJ220 is the perfect example of a brilliant failure. Jaguar shouldn't have built it, true enough, and shouldn't have hyped it as something it was not, but it was an amazing car. Not perfect, but still very much a supercar.
This car is way off brand for Jaguar. It's visually busy, angry, juvenile, inelegant. True Jaguars are visually fluid with elegant surfaces, elongated shapes, voluptuous and...well...cat-like. If, however, Tata intends a brand departure, they left this stubby abomination incomplete. It's missing its wing. Phil
An R8/Porsche Turbo priced product wouldn't be out of line for Jaguar. Yes, terrible timing, but if it takes 2-3 years to bring to consumers, things may have changed enough to have a better market. Tata wants define Jaguar away from its geriatric (XJ) roots. Conceivably, a low-production number car like this might be more successful than entering into the cut-throat ~50k roadster market (Boxter, SLK, Z4...) Then, Jaguar can trickle down to the F-type. Someday.