SOME 50 YEARS after the legendary E-Type, Jaguar is finally set to create its successor.
The F-Type was perhaps the most hyped no-show at the New York auto show last week. Instead of unveiling the car in the metal, the firm showed a brief video of a heavily-camouflaged version of the car.
What is apparent is that it’s a proper two-seater sports car and is scheduled to go on sale in mid-2013. It’s also likely to be powered by a a supercharged, direct-injected 375-hp V6 engine. And if the concept car shown in Frankfurt is anything to by, then it might also boast an electric motor that will throw an extra 94bhp into the mix for a short spurt of extra power when you depress a button mounted on the steering wheel.
The newest Jaguar will be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham.
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.”
It’s the fulfillment of a promise by Jaguar’s previous managing director, Mike O’Driscoll, to create a sports car to truly rival the muscle of the Porsche 911. O’Driscoll may have departed but his dream seems to be coming true.