Wednesday 15th April

Jensen confirms GTX name for imminent new car

60 years after the world first saw an Interceptor, a fresh take is coming

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You might remember that earlier in the year Jensen International Automotive (JIA) confirmed it had plans to launch an ‘ultra high performance luxury British GT’. Now we know what it’ll be called, with a first full appearance due very soon: Interceptor GTX. Hardly great for distancing the new model from the claims of continuation or restomod, but there’s also heritage and recognition with the Interceptor name that would surely be foolish to ignore. From what can be seen in the latest teaser image, moreover, there seems little danger of confusing new with old.

Beyond the moniker, there’s not a lot more confirmed about the new Jensen for now. But it’s worth reiterating the promise, because it sounds like something very special is being cooked up. It’s a ground-up new machine, remember, with a chassis and body made from aluminum as well as what’s being called a ‘bespoke’ V8 engine. So most likely a spicier variant of a familiar unit, but when those V8s are as good as the Ford Coyote and the Chevy LS there’ll be no complaints here. It feels very historically appropriate, too, for a new British sports car to have Yank tank power.

Speaking of which, there’s a name from Jensen’s past now involved with the GTX program. Jeff Qvale sounds like a comic book superhero, but as well as being a ‘key partner in the project’ he’s the son of Kjell Qvale - former owner of Jensen Motors. You might recognise the name from the Qvale Mangusta that became the MG XPower SV way back when; the family has been in automotive for a long time now. The man himself said: “For me, this project is very personal. Jensen was a big part of my father’s life and our family history. Hand-built to the utmost quality, the Jensen Interceptor GTX will set new benchmarks and provide the pure, high-performance, ultra-analogue driving experience that discerning clientele are now demanding.” Managing Director of Jensen International David Duerden added that Qvale “will play a crucial role in bringing the Jensen Interceptor GTX to market.”

There’s not long to wait for that time, either, with a global unveil of ‘pre-production, ultra-high-performance special’ coming before the summer. And for an idea of what to expect from a new Jensen product, just take a look at some of its recent work. Nobody knows quite how to make a great Interceptor quite like JIA; the GTX has quite a lot to live up to… 

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• New Jensen-inspired ‘luxury British GT’ inbound
  
• JIA plots 770hp hybrid Jensen Interceptor FF

[Alistair BCC]

Excellent.
Everyone loves an Interceptor x

[yme402]

Oh dear.
This won’t end well……

[Studio263]

Is that the name of the car or the oil that you put in it?

What next - the Morgan Duckhams Hypergrade?

[DonkeyApple]

Good luck to them. This is what more British firms should be doing, building low volume cars that skirt all the 2035/40 stuff around the world for enthusiasts who want to escape the banal mess of modern mass production.

The U.K. has huge latent expertise at this and the govt needs to be backing and incentivising new ventures regardless of drivetrain and target value instead of hoping another Charlie Dunstone will magically appear. From £50k to £5m there is a clear market for low volume silliness.

[W i d e body]

They will produce somewhere between 0-9 cars and then disappear without trace .

Miserable prediction but realistic.

How's the new TVR going ?

[DuncanM]

DonkeyApple said:

Good luck to them. This is what more British firms should be doing, building low volume cars that skirt all the 2035/40 stuff around the world for enthusiasts who want to escape the banal mess of modern mass production.

The U.K. has huge latent expertise at this and the govt needs to be backing and incentivising new ventures regardless of drivetrain and target value instead of hoping another Charlie Dunstone will magically appear. From £50k to £5m there is a clear market for low volume silliness.

Agree, good luck to them, it's probably the most exciting market segment, or at least should be, would love to see an influx of swan song automotive silliness.

[PistonTim]

I thought VW owned the GTX suffix?

[fflump]

Good luck to them. Shame it doesn't have the old fishbowl style rear screen which would make it stand out over looking like a stretched Audi A7.

[GTRene]

I like low-ish cars, but to my eyes this looks like a space UFO with wheels if that makes sense.

[DonkeyApple]

GTRene said:

I like low-ish cars, but to my eyes this looks like a space UFO with wheels if that makes sense.

It does. It's because the wheels look tiny and the overhangs huge. When a proper image is revealed one assumes it will have 8 foot rims as is the modern norm.

[williamp]

Studio263 said:

Is that the name of the car or the oil that you put in it?

What next - the Morgan Duckhams Hypergrade?

I can hear the launch music alread...

[Lester H]

W i d e body said:

They will produce somewhere between 0-9 cars and then disappear without trace .

Miserable prediction but realistic.

How's the new TVR going ?

OK, many of us can’t afford anything like this. That’s realism. But on an enthusiasts thread we ought to applaud this and not be’troppo negativo’. Good mate had an Interceptor which I thought was lovely. It results in an awkward stance if you are dismissive of this yet complain about bland boring blobs which have proliferated.

[Sebring440]

I don't understand how they can call it a "Jensen"? They don't own any intellectual properties to the Jensen name and rights?

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

But will the wipers stay down at high speed ?

[Andy665]

Nothing like a group of "motoring enthusiasts" predicting guaranteed failure, its a British built GT car with a proper engine - something to celebrate

[jet_noise]

williamp said:

Studio263 said:

Is that the name of the car or the oil that you put in it?

What next - the Morgan Duckhams Hypergrade?

I can hear the launch music alread...

Some say there's a colour option just called "Q".

Sebring440 said:

I don't understand how they can call it a "Jensen"? They don't own any intellectual properties to the Jensen name and rights?

Ah, is that why they didn't use the Interceptor name?
As opposed to incompetent shiny suited marketeers

[Wadeski]

I mean, it give it half a chance of selling a dozen purely because its not an EV.

If it were an EV, i would point them to the lack of success of Cadillac doing the same thing....

[dzernski]

The front end light area profile is very...5th gen camaro. Not saying this is a bad thing, but it is a thing nonetheless. I too look forward to the group test comparison between this and the TVR - might as well add in Caterham project V at the same time

[C69]

Sebring440 said:

I don't understand how they can call it a "Jensen"? They don't own any intellectual properties to the Jensen name and rights?

Jensen International Automotive Limited seems to have 'Jensen', a Jensen logo, and 'Jensen Interceptor' registered with the IPO. No idea if these apply outside of the UK, though.

https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...
https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Resu...

[ManyMotors]

If this happens, it should have Stellantis "hemi" power as that entity no longer has a V8 "wedge". (Even though the new "hemi" is really a "wedge").