New Jensen-inspired 'luxury British GT' inbound
JIA has been perfecting the Interceptor for yonks - now it intends to go one giant step further
You’ll likely have heard of Jensen International Automotive, the unofficial caretaker of the Interceptor’s heart and soul, and a firm also involved with restomodding other British icons, most notably the classic Range Rover. While projects like the six-figure Interceptor R have proven popular, it seems JIA has been harbouring much loftier ambitions: nothing less, in fact, than the launch later this year of an ‘ultra-high performance luxury British GT’ which uses Jensen’s famed four-seat coupe as inspiration, but is said to be new from the ground up.
Intriguing, right? And hugely bold, given the leap from overhauling to clean-sheet design is enormous and fraught with costly difficulties. But JIA’s Managing Director, David Duerden is adamant: “While it takes inspiration from the Jensen Interceptor launched 60 years ago, this is certainly no ‘restomod’ or ‘continuation’ and will stand proudly as a completely all-new car in its own right.” And though it will inevitably be built in ‘ultra-low numbers’, the company has suggested the as-yet-unnamed GT will be the responsibility of a dedicated division within JIA.
So what should we expect? Well, the shadowy teaser suggests a fairly long bonnet and a swooping roofline - as you’d expect from any homage to the Interceptor - but the lights and air intakes and what appears to be a fairly prominent rear diffuser suggest a car rooted in the 21st century. Which seems appropriate for a model said to feature ‘an aluminium chassis and bespoke V8 engine’, items that will have required significant investment for JIA to bring to bear, and indeed perfect.
The pursuit of near perfection will need to be an overriding objective if the firm hopes to successfully horn in on a segment that already includes several British luminaries - but when it mentions ‘a fully analogue driving experience’, it isn’t hard to see the space that JIA has identified for itself. Duerden promises an “an unmatched, deeply immersive, V8-powered driving experience”, precisely the dynamic qualities you’d arguably find in short supply elsewhere. We’re also promised further details very soon. Fingers crossed, eh?
Thank the lord it won t be electric and it will be powered by a V8 just as it should be.
Look forward to seeing this but as the poster above says it does seem quite long.
Long bonnet so the huge engine can be positioned behind the front axel.
Loads of room for luggage in the rear.
Everything you’d want from a modern Interceptor.
Local holiday home owner has an Interceptor. It s been left to rot and he won t sell it. It breaks my heart to see it decaying like that. There s just something right about them.
That truly is a shame, it’s the owners decision of course, but it doesn’t seem right if it can be saved.
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