Here it is folks, the new 'baby' Jaguar sportscar. Or at least a rendering of it issued 'officially' by the Jaguar design department - you'll have to wait until the Frankfurt show next month to see the car in the metal. (The rotten teases, etc.)
Jaguar is calling its new show car the C-X16 production concept, and says the show car "is a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology."
According to the unofficial drip-feed of info that has accompanied the new car's development, it will share a platform with the next generation XK, albeit in slightly 'sawn-off' two-seater format and with V6 power. We also know the car is going to be a harder-edged dynamically than the next XK (which itself could go very luxo-GT in the manner of the Maserati GranTurismo).
The new shared platform is an evolution of the current version, and indeed the new 'baby' is reportedly only 30cms shorter while just as wide as a current XK. But there has been a lot of work to remove weight, we've been told, the latter not through significant changes to the current XK's aluminium structure but through the adoption of lighter alloy suspension components, and the like.
Design director Ian Callum and global brand director Adrian Hallmark are both quoted in the press release accompanying the picture...
Ian Callum: 'Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate.'
Adrian Hallmark: 'Jaguar has set in place bold, ambitious plans for the future. This production concept demonstrates the depth of design and engineering ability we have within Jaguar to make these plans come to life - I look forward to sharing this latest, exciting step at the Frankfurt Motor Show.'
There's a bit more background stuff here, in case you missed it, but we can't tell you much more for now other than the prices are likely to start at around the £50k late next year.
Oh, and we're ready to bet on the real C-X16 getting more column inches than anything else at Frankfurt, a new Porsche 911 notwithstanding...