F-Type Concept

[Lancs Jag Boy]

Does anyone know anything about the Jaguar's F-Type concept it showed maybe 8-9 years ago? It was suppoed to be a light 2 seater rag-top, aimed at Z4/CLK segment. As with many ideas it came to nothing, but a pub discussion recently has led me to want to find out more. Any ideas?

[fatboy b]

This was the last pic posted up. Not sure if it's a goer yet.

[Simpo Two]

This is/was the F-Type:







More at http://vroomvroom.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/jag-fan...

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 29th December 15:09

[groomi]

Simpo, that bottom pic is the XK180 - purely a concept based on a shortened, stiffened XK8 platform.

The F-Type has been around in many guises for about 30 years - it was originally meant to replace the bigger XJS in the mid '80s but was shelved, then the concept shown above was mooted in the late 90's before being b*stardised a few years later when they couldn't decide whether to make it mid-engined and pitch it against the Boxster.

The top image from Auto Express is a typical AE flight of fancy IMO.

[Simpo Two]

groomi said:

Simpo, that bottom pic is the XK180 - purely a concept based on a shortened, stiffened XK8 platform.

Sorry yes. Wasn't the F-Type a derivative of the XK180? I hear there were only two XK180s made. I recall Clarkson driving one - it sounded like a Spitfire

They come from a time when Jaguar was remarkably good at fantastic concept cars and getting queues of fans eager to buy them, but then building X-Type diesels instead

[groomi]

Simpo Two said:

groomi said:

Simpo, that bottom pic is the XK180 - purely a concept based on a shortened, stiffened XK8 platform.

Sorry yes. Wasn't the F-Type a derivative of the XK180? I hear there were only two XK180s made. I recall Clarkson driving one - it sounded like a Spitfire

It did sound awesome and there was a great article in one of the mags at the time with the development car (an obviously shortened XK8 with a cage), which looked the nuts in a 'built it in my shed' kind of way. However, they were not related to the F-Type which was a clean-sheet proposition from Keith Helfet. It suffered from not having enough commonality with any existing production cars and then the arrival of Ian 'one-trick' Callum.

Simpo Two said:

They come from a time when Jaguar was remarkably good at fantastic concept cars and getting queues of fans eager to buy them, but then building X-Type diesels instead

Agreed. The golden age of epic failure by the management...

[monthefish]

Simpo Two said:

I hear there were only two XK180s made.

Correct.
The most common one seen is the first one made, a RHD one with a Cream/Green interior sporting the 'Paris' 20" alloys.
The second was a LHD with a Brown/Tan interior sporting the Detroit alloys.
IIRC the tailpipes were different too.

groomi said:

Simpo Two said:

They come from a time when Jaguar was remarkably good at fantastic concept cars and getting queues of fans eager to buy them, but then building X-Type diesels instead

Agreed. The golden age of epic failure by the management...

Indeed!

Edited by monthefish on Tuesday 30th December 14:45

[skidrisk]

Taken from The Jaguar File book. The F-type concept was shown at the Detroit motor show of 2000. It followed the trend towards nimbler, less extravagant sports cars drawing inspiration from the lightweight E-types.

The prototype had the 238bhp AJ-V6 of the S-type and was rear wheel drive with a 5 speed manual gearbox.

The car is usually on show at the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in Coventry.


It was a bit dusty when I saw it.

[a8hex]

groomi said:

[It suffered from not having enough commonality with any existing production cars

This was always the Jaguar's trick.
The XK120 came about as a way to test the XK engine in production before putting it into a volume product, it existed purely because it used the engine planned for the Mk VII and modified Make V chassis.

The E-Type used the Mk X rear axle, no Mk X and there never would have been the E-Type.

In order for Jaguar to produce a small sports car it will need to share much of it's infrastructure with a volume product, or they are going to have to sell a lot more of them than Jaguar has ever managed to do, or they are going to need to be seriously pricey. If the X-Type had sold better, it might have allowed for an F-Type off shoot.