Remember the F-Type Roadster concept? Maybe not, after all it debuted way back in 2000 when Jaguar was still an upstanding member of the Ford Motor Company. Even then it seemed like a long shot and indeed it was. Although it was announced for production in early 2001, the F-Type was never to be seen again as Jaguar instead focused its resources on the ill-fated X-Type sedan.
Rumors of a new Jaguar sportscar have swirled ever since and now recent comments by current Managing Director Mike O'Driscoll suggest there's a distinct possibility we'll see a new car soon. At a recent event in Spain, O'Driscoll told Inside Line that the company would love to build a sports car.
"If we were to do something, it would be a proper sports car priced like a 911. Wouldn't it be great to launch a sports car at Geneva on the 50th anniversary of the E-type?"
Well, yes Mike it would, and with that anniversary coming up in 2011, there's plenty of time to put something together. A report in AutoCar suggests there's already plenty of work being done on what could be called the Jaguar XE. Lotus appears to be involved and it looks as though the XE will use a cropped version of the aluminum chassis currently used for the XK. Expect to see a concept version around this time next year if all goes as planned.
ctpax says:
09:21 AM, 02/24/09
awwww, that thing looks like a puppy! So cute!
altimadude00 says:
02:31 PM, 02/24/09
Jaguar front with Solstice rear. A Jaguar roadster would be interesting to drool over.
jederino says:
04:30 PM, 02/24/09
The side mirrors look like furry animal ears from a japanese baby jumpsuit.