Friday 6th September 2013

Jaguar XK180: Time for Tea?

The F-Type that never was gets a thrashing from Tiff Needle [sic]

---

If there's one thing guaranteed at a motor show, it's the unveiling of a concept that's achingly desirable but will always be denied production status. Peugeot has been particularly good at it with stuff like the Onyx, and this year's Frankfurt show will feature beautiful show ponies such as the Opel Monza and Volvo Concept Coupe.

The Jaguar XK180 is the archetypal show car that never was. Well, not directly or immediately that is. A shortened XK chassis, supercharged V8 from the XJ and an auto gearbox... this was the Y2K F-Type. It was even slightly heavier than it should have been given its aluminium construction.

But here's the thing. The F-Type is a hugely desirable sports car that looks amazing. For visual drama though, the XK180 runs smoky rings round it. Oh sure, that voluptuous windscreen must be hugely impractical but it creates a wonderful speedster look. The rest of the design is actually quite simple; the wheels are big but use only five spokes and no aspect is particularly outlandish.

Basically, it looked (and looks) production ready. The F-Type is undoubtedly a great Jaguar sports car, but that doesn't stop us wondering what might have been with the XK180...

Enjoy!

[Rumblestripe]

Would it be terribly rude to lick it all over?

Want.

[myhandle]

The XK180 was not the F Type that never was. The F Type of 2001, which is a smaller car than the XK180 with similar styling, was the F Type that never was.

http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/the-f-type-and-its...

[monthefish]

The SVO department were obviously in good form at that time.

Amyone else remember the manual 2001 XKR-R ?

[varsas]

Good video, I remember this when it was first out, I suppose it was too close in concept to the XK8 to make it into production. The gear change buttons seem to be the wrong way round, and I'm not sure what he means by 'heel & toe' in an automatic car?

[Krikkit]

In today's market a limited run of those would sell rather nicely. Looks like such a lovely thing to sit in!

[DonkeyApple]

Krikkit said:

In today's market a limited run of those would sell rather nicely. Looks like such a lovely thing to sit in!

I'm surprised it hasn't been done using an XKR as the base.

[DonkeyApple]

http://www.xk180.com/jaguar-xk180-home

No idea if it's any good.

[anonymous-user]

I remember drooling over these when I was about 12. They looked SO awesome and my dad had an xk8 at the time.
I remember thinking it was obviously the logical next step.

BUT this car looks SO dated now. I am constantly and consistently amazed at how easily car manufacturers and designers can make old cars look really really old against their new versions. Granted this was never made and so there is no car that followed but to compare the f-type to this is quite crazy.

[JamesHayward]

This car (or a damn perfect replica) appeared at Le Mans this year.

[JamesHayward]

This car (or a damn perfect replica) appeared at Le Mans this year.

[300bhp/ton]

myhandle said:

The XK180 was not the F Type that never was. The F Type of 2001, which is a smaller car than the XK180 with similar styling, was the F Type that never was.

http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/the-f-type-and-its...

Or how about project XJ41 also the F-Type that never was, although it did eventually make production, just not as a Jaguar.

[anonymous-user]

monthefish said:

The SVO department were obviously in good form at that time.

Amyone else remember the manual 2001 XKR-R ?

I remember that in evo, years ago. Fantastic car.

[smilo996]

Was that Mel Gibson with an English accent!?!?! The original F Type, looked brilliant in the flesh and was I think (might be wrong) one of those fanatical engineers at weekend jobs. Lovely it was.

Not seen this one because it looks like the original XKR and is to that what the Project 7 is to the F Type. Nice though.

[jakeb]

JamesHayward said:

This car (or a damn perfect replica) appeared at Le Mans this year.

Yes, some foreign types had one in Houx?

[300bhp/ton]

smilo996 said:

The original F Type, looked brilliant in the flesh

Doubt you meant this one, but it does look good, although maybe not modern by "today's" standards.

[j_s14a]

A truly great looking car. I always feel sad it was never produced.

[jakeb]

this is the one

https://www.facebook.com/Xk180

http://www.jepespecials.com/cms/index.php/en/jagua...

Edited by jakeb on Friday 6th September 17:00

[vincegail]

jakeb said:

JamesHayward said:

This car (or a damn perfect replica) appeared at Le Mans this year.

Yes, some foreign types had one in Houx?

A dutch firm brought their replica indeed.
www.xk180.nl

2 pictures I took:

[z06tim]

The XK180 was on display at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon, when I was there a few weeks ago, as part of a jaguar display.

Worth a look as there was a prototype XJ220 that had this lurking inside

[z06tim]

Here's the XK180: