Jaguar has confirmed news reports that have circulated the Web for some time know that it will build the F-Type sportscar.
Speaking at the New York Auto Show Adrian Hallmark, global brand director of Jaguar, said: “We showed the C-X16 concept in September 2011, and the reaction to it has been so positive that we’ve accelerated our development of an all-new Jaguar sports car.
“That car will be called the F-Type, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year. The core appeal of Jaguar’s cars is their sporting heart, and that heart will beat stronger than ever before in the F-Type. Its development is a vivid representation of the confidence and ambition of the Jaguar brand, and the desire amongst our engineers and design team to produce a world-leader in a market segment that we have been absent from for too long. But no longer – the F-Type is coming.”
Surprisingly, the F-Type will launch only as a convertible, and strictly as a two-seater. It will utilise aluminium construction and a range of brand-new petrol engines.
As the third and fourth pics show, the F-Type is in the final stage of on-road testing around Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant, where the car will be built.
Full F-Type technical and range details will be announced later in 2012. It will go on sale in mid-2013.