Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar design boss wants to develop more sports cars

New Jaguar F-Type could be joined by another model if new design director gets his way

Jaguar F-Type - badge

Jaguar’s new design director, Julian Thomson, has told Auto Express that he wants to create more sports cars, now that he’s at the head of the British firm’s design department.

The updated Jaguar F-Type, the firm’s only sports car, is the first new model to be launched under Thomson’s tenure as design director, but Thomson is keen to strengthen Jaguar’s  position in that market. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, he told us: “Jaguar will always build sports cars. I’d love to do more than one.” 

Advertisement - Article continues below

• New Jaguar factory to allow for 'more glamorous' designs

Although sales of sports cars today are comparatively low when compared with other types of vehicle, Thomson believes that the growing threat to mainstream volume production could see a greater demand for luxury vehicles and sports cars in the future. He said, “In this day and age of electrification and autonomous technology, a part of me thinks there may be a resurgence of people enjoying transportation for transportation’s sake and driving for driving’s sake.

“Whether that makes the market bigger I don’t know, but I think there is a threat to volume production cars and they are going to struggle to find a position on what they do. I’d hope that truly special and luxury cars, sports cars, will find a place where they have the option to be more exotic.”

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Thomson wouldn't be drawn on which area of the market an additional Jaguar sports car would target, but he did rule out a fully electric hypercar. “Cars like the Pininfarina [Battista] and Lotus [Evija] which have sheer amounts of power are not the answer,” he explained. “You need to have something which you interact with and love and have that sense of connection with. I don’t think that can be done through sheer power.”

Jaguar F-Type - vent

Work is already under way on the F-Type’s successor, which is due to land around 2022. When asked how Jaguar will approach electric vehicle technology and sports cars, Thomson added: “It’s going to be the next generation of car when we do something like that. We’re starting to understand the electric car experience and its very good. The new XJ will be fully EV and it fits that type of car.”

“I guess what’s more difficult for us to understand, is that you buy a sports car because you want something really interactive and emotional engagement - so we’re still thinking about what would be the electric sports car offering. It’s not clear to us yet.”

Asked if Jaguar would ever consider jointly developing a new sports car with another manufacturer, much like Toyota and BMW did with the Z4 and Supra, Thomson replied: “It depends what that car is really and depends what you’re trying to create. The industry is all about collaboration these days and we’d welcome the opportunity to do that. But it has to be a real Jaguar, I’d hate to do something where each party has to compromise to create an average result.” 

What do you think of Jaguar's current design? Let us know in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
13 Jun 2025
Controversial Jaguar GT draws in buyers despite the fact nobody has seen it!
Jaguar Type 00 (camouflaged) - front 3/4 tracking

Controversial Jaguar GT draws in buyers despite the fact nobody has seen it!

A close-to-production concept of the eagerly awaited EV will be revealed later this year, before the road-going model lands in 2026
News
14 May 2025
Jaguar Land Rover stops car exports to the US in wake of Trump Tariffs
Range Rover Evoque

Jaguar Land Rover stops car exports to the US in wake of Trump Tariffs

JLR announced a four-week pause on shipments of all its cars to the US as it comes to terms with 25% tariffs.
News
5 Apr 2025
New Jaguar Type 00 stirs up more hype by shutting down the streets of Paris
Jaguar Type 00 blue - front 3/4

New Jaguar Type 00 stirs up more hype by shutting down the streets of Paris

The Type 00 concept was unveiled in December 2024, previewing a bold new direction for Jaguar
News
11 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster exclusive image

Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival

The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Jun 2025