Jag F-type is go!

By Ken Gibson

28th May 2010

IT’S the news that British sports car fans have been desperate to hear – the Jaguar F-Type is go! Bosses at the firm have finally given the green light to the two-seat roadster, which will take on the Porsche Boxster.

The F-Type was first seen in the form of the XK180 concept back in 1998, but the project has been constantly delayed as the company struggled with its finances. But now, thanks to the promise of £1bn of investment every year for the next five years by new Indian owners Tata, a driver-focused sports car is iminent.

“We have a new momentum.There is so much potential,” said Jaguar Land Rover chairman Ralf Speth. “A new sports car is coming.” Tata chief executive Carl-Peter Forster added: “We like the idea [of a sports car], we support the idea. [Designer] Ian Callum has been working on some ideas along these lines, and we like what we see. We are at the clay model stage, tweaking the idea here and there.” When it’s finished, expect the F-Type to look very similar to our illustration (right). With a classic oval mesh grille, sporty air intakes and a bold bonnet bulge, it has plenty of road presence and is instantly recognisable as a Jaguar.

As with the larger XK, the new F-Type’s chassis will be an aluminium monocoque with extruded body panels, an arrangement that is light yet highly strong and stiff, which will benefit handling and refinement. An electrically operated folding canvas roof will be offered as standard, and there is also the potential for a fixed-head coupé.

Power will come from Jaguar’s latest 380bhp 5.0-litre V8. There’s also the possibility of a supercharged 500bhp V8 R version, and even a diesel. The F-Type line-up will sit below the XK range and cost between £45,000-£50,000, which places it against top-end performance cars such as the Audi TT RS and Porsche’s Boxster and Cayman. Expect to see a new F-Type concept within the next 18 months.