Jaguar F-Type SVR spied

A faster and more track focused F-Type you say? Where do we sign?!

Ever since the Jaguar F-Type was launched, and especially since the coupe's arrival, there's been a tonne of speculation about the prospect of a flagship beyond the V8. An R-S, a GT, something along those lines. Now it seems there could be something close to a production reality.

Fixed wing, ceramics, new wheels - it's serious!

This prototype has been spied at the Nurburgring, where no doubt a seven-minute something lap will be announced at some point. But even for those who aren't too fussed about lap times - there must be plenty - the F-Type SVR package looks very enticing.

See this car's more prominent front bumper, the fixed rear wing and different wheels. It's a wholly more aggressive look, one that looks great from here even beneath the camo. Yellow calipers denote carbon brakes, something you would hope to be standard on this car. JLR has previously stated that all SVRs will be 4WD as well.

Power? The standard V8 R is hardly short of performance with 550hp but a few more seems likely, just to force home the range-topping status. Will it top 600hp? Arguably of more relevance to the F-Type's dynamics though is weight, or rather a lack of it. The F-Type has always impressed dynamically but a suspicion has remained that it would be significantly improved by dropping a few kilos. Let's hope this is the car to get the F-Type under 1,500kg.

Is a little less weight too much to ask?

Given the manual gearbox is only available on the V6 F-Types it seems likely that the eight-speed auto will be offered. No bad thing, it's a very good gearbox. Worth remembering too that Jaguar's last track focused special was the XKR-S GT, a very expensive but extremely exciting car that promised a lot. Harris's review in fact concluded with "the GT is a great foretaste of what's to come from Jaguar... Imagine when they do that with the F-Type."

So yes, we're all very keen to see just what this F-Type becomes. With this year focused on the launch of the manual and all-wheel drive cars, it seems unlikely an SVR will be seen before 2016. One to steal the show at Geneva perhaps? We'll keep you posted.