Jaguar has confirmed that it will introduce an all-new sports car - the F-Type - in mid-2013.
Speaking at the New York auto show global brand director Adrian Hallmark said: “The reaction to the C-X16 concept has been so positive that we've accelerated the development of our new sports car. It'll be called the F-Type and will be shown in production form later this year.”
The new two-seater uses Jaguar's proven all-aluminium construction, and will be launched as a convertible, with a range of petrol engines - including a completely new engine family - and Hallmark has promised “stunning sports-car performance”.
He mentioned that the development mules had left the Jaguar skunk works at Castle Bromwich - which is also where the production cars will be built - for final road testing on Tuesday.
DYNAMIC DRIVING
Vehicle line director Ian Hoban said: “We’re focusing on dynamic driving; we're excited about progress so far and looking forward to showing the world what we've achieved.”
Design director Ian Callum added: “A true sports car needs to be pure in both its purpose and its form; it's been a privilege to produce such a car for Jaguar. The C-Type, D-Type and E-Type held to this principle in their day, as will the F-Type in its time.”
The F-Type will join Jaguar's existing range of cars - the XF sedan and Sportbrake, XJ sedan and XK coupé/convertible. Full technical details will be announced later in 2012 and it will go on sale in mid-2013.