RE: Ian Callum talks F-Type coupe

RE: Ian Callum talks F-Type coupe

Tuesday 2nd October 2012

Ian Callum talks F-Type coupe

Jag design boss reveals his plans for a more hardcore hardtop F-Type to spearhead an R revolution



Jaguar F-Type designer Ian Callum has raised the tempting possibility that the hot R version of the stunning new roadster could in fact be a coupe. Bit like how BMW's M division created the wild breadvan tintop variant of the Z3 M.

C-X16 coupe previewed F-Type, hints at coupe
C-X16 coupe previewed F-Type, hints at coupe
In fact, he's so bullish about the F-Type that he told PistonHeads it could spawn a sub-brand within Jaguar with all manner of variants.

He's pretty certain the coupe is a given. "There is definitely a business case to do a coupe, that decision will be made quite soon," he told us.

Then we got talking about a hot R version - might that be the coupe? "It could well be," he said. He wouldn't discuss engines, but the R version would have to borrow the 550hp engine from the XKR-S, given that the standard V8 S F-Type with 495hp already comes close to the XKR output. Probably wouldn't be far off in price either with standard V8 S costing £79,950.

Callum has big plans for the aluminium-bodied two seater. "Personally I think we'd be mad not to turn this car into something more. It's going to end up almost its own brand, the F-Type brand," he told us in an interview.

A hardcore 550hp coupe version? Yes please!
A hardcore 550hp coupe version? Yes please!
"We can work on having a portfolio [of models]. We'll do that," he said. Suggestion of a shooting brake results in him making a face, but he says "who knows?"

Interestingly the coupe concept seen at the Frankfurt show last year came after the convertible. "That was an F-Type with a fastback," he told us. "We'd already finished F-Type. I said to the design team, if we were to do a coupe, what would it look like, so we put a model together."

Engineers working on any R version would welcome a coupe shape, much like Z3 M lead engineer Burkhard Goschel wanted it for the BMW - the fixed roof makes it that much stiffer.

It may even allow Jaguar to remove some of the weight too, a good thing given that the entry V6 weighs almost 1,600kg. Whether that matters at all depends entirely on what it's like to drive. It SHOULD be brilliant. Fingers crossed.

 

Author
Discussion

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,490 posts

233 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Lovely though the convertible is, that coupe is even more cloud9

Cyrus1971

855 posts

238 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Far far far too expensive. Knock £20K off and I would start to look at a massively depretiating car like Jag builds. Until then I'll stick with M series and Porsches...

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Bloodyhell, how pretty is that!!! cloud9

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
needs a big wing smile

Lione1 Richie

173 posts

182 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Looks so much better as a coupe. Now I want one!

T1berious

2,236 posts

154 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
y2blade said:
Bloodyhell, how pretty is that!!! cloud9
^this^

That is my next "must get" car if it drives as good as it looks wink

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Cyrus1971 said:
Far far far too expensive. Knock £20K off and I would start to look at a massively depretiating car like Jag builds. Until then I'll stick with M series and Porsches...
With looks like that, no chance!

Mr. Magoo

686 posts

227 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Nice - but I don't feel the same way about it that I did when the Alfa 8C arrived. My view is that stylists are putting too many gash's slats and slits on cars and focusing on nicely blended lines and shut lines.

shouldbenicholas

43 posts

203 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
It looks awesome, of course. But I struggle to see any Jaguar in it!

I know we're all bored of other manufacturers making styling updates so lame we can't tell one model from another, but at least Porsche, Aston, Mercedes etc LOOK like the brand they are... At least there's a signature there, or a nod to a begotten hero.

Maybe I don't know Jag enough, can anyone find a pic of something that hints at this from the Jag archives?

AyBee

10,521 posts

201 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
y2blade said:
Bloodyhell, how pretty is that!!! cloud9
yescloud9

garypotter

1,465 posts

149 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
cracking looking car, i prefer the coupe to the convertible, I wonder if prices will slide if the sales are not reached??

People are spending much more money on a Merc SL so I assume they will sell at this price (too much for me though)

blartbox

48 posts

143 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Have to agree with Cyrus1971. It's in the same price range as the better-looking XK, for which it offers internal competition. I thought Jaguar were supposed to be making a Boxter / SLK / Cayman competitor. Too expensive & too heavy I'm afraid...

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
shouldbenicholas said:
It looks awesome, of course. But I struggle to see any Jaguar in it!

I know we're all bored of other manufacturers making styling updates so lame we can't tell one model from another, but at least Porsche, Aston, Mercedes etc LOOK like the brand they are... At least there's a signature there, or a nod to a begotten hero.

Maybe I don't know Jag enough, can anyone find a pic of something that hints at this from the Jag archives?
Rear lights/end e-type.

Donatello

1,035 posts

160 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
This looks incredible... I'm already on the Jag website playing with the configurator!

Stubbs

12 posts

182 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Time to upset their next door neighbours?

will261058

1,115 posts

191 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Thought I would like the coupe more and I was right, its gorgeous. smile

British Beef

2,183 posts

164 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Absolutely stunning looking BUT too heavy, too expensive and too GT, infact generally too "XK"-light.

Like most others on here I was hoping for something a little more raw, a little cheaper and ideally with a manual box.

Hopefully the F-type sub-brand will breed some of these slightly uncouth, less refined, brutish F-type / Elise love-children!

tommy vercetti

11,486 posts

162 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Loving that.

Junglehop

363 posts

187 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Coupe looks stunning.... I must work harder

BBS-LM

3,972 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Fantastic car, and it's great too see Jag design a new car which just looks amazing and original, the real question now is? why would you not make the Coup.