First New Two-Seater Sports Car in Approximately 50 Years

"In September 2011,C-X16when we unveiled the concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it was met with great acclaim. That spurred Jaguar to accelerate its sports car development."

So said Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director of Jaguar Cars UK. Jaguar announced the "F-Type" via video at the New York International Auto Show. The video below shows an engineering prototype leaving the Castle Bromwich plant in England for road testing. As mentioned in the video, this marks Jaguar's first new development of a two-seater sports car in approximately 50 years. Hallmark stated that the announcement day would be a historic milestone for Jaguar, and that the "F-Type" signals the future direction of the company.


In the 1950s, Jaguar established a solid reputation as a manufacturer of racing and sports cars, with its "C-Type" and "D-Type" models often triumphing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, outperforming rivals like Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz, brands still renowned for high-performance automobiles today. The production car that followed, the "E-Type," introduced in 1961, carried on this legacy. With its flowing design and superior performance, it became a major hit in America, then the world's largest automotive market.

The new "F-Type" is positioned as the successor to the "E-Type," signaling Jaguar's intention to reclaim its image as a sports car brand.

Details about the "F-Type" itself remain scarce. What is clear is that it is a convertible model featuring a strong, lightweight all-aluminum construction, and that its gasoline engine lineup will include newly developed units. In the video, former racer Martin Brundle test drives a prototype and highly praises its dynamic performance.

Further details are expected to be announced by the end of 2012, with a launch scheduled for mid-2013.