New Jaguar E-Type – Series IV
Discussion
New Jaguar E-Type – Series IV
Here’s an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while and thought I’d share.
A proposal to Jaguar Cars:
Bring back the E-Type!
While the current Jaguar line up boasts some very well designed and overall fantastic cars they do seem to be lacking in an area that made Jaguar great in the first place.
I’m talking about its performance orientated sports cars.
Because at one time Jaguar was considered a sports car manufacturer, with greats such as the XK120 thru XK150, the C-Type, D-Type and of course the E-Type. This sportiness even transpired to the saloons in the forms of the MK2 with its 3.8 litre XK engine it was favoured buy criminals and the Police a like, for its speed and performance.
So the idea of bringing back the E-Type would not be as an intent to replace any of the current range, but more to supplement it in the form of a 2 seat sports car.
The interesting bit:
Don’t, I repeat don’t make a car loosely based on the E-Type as a concept and ethos. But make it a real E-Type. Make it look the same.
Synopsis:
-2 seat sports coupe and convertible
-Front engined
-RWD
-Lightweight
-Focused on performance and fun to drive
-Manual and automatic options
-Priced to sell
Potentially there are at least 3 or 4 model variations to be offered.
All models should be available as a coupe or a convertible and manual (6 speed) or automatic (5 or 6 speed) transmissions.
Base model:
Reintroduce the 3.2 AJV8. No need to develop a small V6 of similar displacement when there is already a suitable powerplant. Also being a V8 would make it more desirable in markets such as the USA. Power should be in the region of 250bhp
Regular model:
This should utilise an n/a AJV8 in either 4.2 or 5.0 form or somewhere in between. Aston Martin has shown that an n/a AJV8 is fully capable of delivering the goods. Power should be in the region of 350-400bhp.
R model:
Roll on the supercharged engine. This should be the top spec model pushing at least 500bhp from probably a 5.0 AJV8 engine running an Eaton M112R supercharger.
RD model:
In this modern world diesels are becoming more popular. So there should also be a diesel version offered (although maybe not at lunch but 6 months after).
However it should not be the normal mundane underpowered sort of diesel that so often appears on the market. This RD model should line up as an alternative to the regular n/a V8 model, or maybe pitched between the n/a V8 and the R. The diesel should be based on the TDV8 as used in the Range Rover. With 3.6 litres and twin turbo’s it should be more than capable of delivering quite stunning performance and with a V8 configuration it should sound the part too. Power should be in the region of 280-300bhp.
Appearance:
The Series IV should be made to look like a Series I or Series II short wheel base E-Type. In a true high fidelity sense of the word.
This would run along the same design principle that Ford did with the GT. It looked just like an original GT40 but modern.
Jaguar should do the same. The E-Type is a great looking car, even by today’s standards and in its day was the car to have. A modern version, I’m sure would sell like hot cakes!
Strip the chrome and make it modern where needed, but retain that classic shape an appearance.
With modern technology there is no reason why the front and rear bumpers couldn’t be incorporated into the shape of the original E-Type, thus retaining the classic lines. The wheel base is probably not too far off what would be needed. The track would probably need to be widened, but this could easily be catered for, even with the use of flared arches as per some of the racing E-Types in terms of visual appearance.
Wheels would need to be modern, maybe in the form of some nice 6 spokes or perhaps something more akin to a Halibrand or lattice alloy to keep with a more retro look. But they should be modern, in the region of 19 or 20” with a decent tyre width such as 255 – 275.
Evidently the car would need to be bulked up to make it safe and meet crash safety standards. So thicker ‘A’ pillars would be needed. But keep the up right windscreen and the swooping rear. The bonnet vents should remain and the rear tailgate could become a hatch for better access and usability.
Interior:
Well it is a Jaguar so it should look good.
But this is a 2 seat sports car, if people want uber luxury and all the gizmo’s they’ll go for the XK8/R instead. So the E-Type S4 should be based on the KISS principle. Keep the interior pleasant and functional. Offer a wood dash and a more modern alternative (alloy or composite of some kind). But don’t burden the car with heavy extra’s it really doesn’t need, this would include too much sound suppression. A sports car should be sporty.
Additional:
The car should have a curb weight of around 1400kg +-. This is a sports car and should not weigh anything more than a Corvette or Porsche 911. If GM and Porsche can build a car to such a weight, there is no reason why the E-Type S4 should end up being an 1800kg porker.
Lightweight aluminium or composite materials should be considered to keep the weight down. Both the Corvette and 4th generation Camaro/Firebirds (1993-2002) used composite panels to great effect and in the case of the Camaro and Firebirds, on a car priced much lower. So it must be a financially viable option.
Pricing and market placement:
This is where it gets difficult. Jaguar could just produce a single variant of the E-Type S4 and price it high, say around £100,000 - £120,000 and hope to cash in on a few sales. In much the same way Ford did with the GT.
I however believe this would be a mistake!
Jaguar have all the means, technologies and ability to produce a car such as the E-Type S4 utilising much of what they already have or could attain from the motoring industry as a whole. If General Motors can build and sell a Corvette at £45,000, Porsche build and sell a Boxster for less and both still make good profit then there is no reason Jaguar can’t do likewise.
I see the allure to sell at a higher price, but surely the maths is simple.
It is far better to sell 4 cars @ £45,000 each than 1 at £100,000.
And in today’s modern financial climate it would be folly to fall into such a trap of high prices and very low volume. Jaguar only need look back to the XJ220 for proof of this.
So in terms of market placement Jaguar should be looking to take on the Porsche Boxster and the 911.
If the E-Type S4 had pricing starting in the high £30k’s for the base model rising to mid £50k for the R.
You could offer a superior car to the Boxster for only a bit more money and a great alternative to a 911 for less money. It would also give Jaguar Cars a weapon to go after potential BMW M3 and M6 drivers, even Ferrari F430 drivers as did the original E-Type back in it’s day.
In the larger world market and American market, such pricing would offer a genuine competitor to the Corvette C6 and even the Corvette C6 z06. Again mimicking the success and market placement of the original E-Type.
In other markets it would offer a classy alternative and capable performer to cars such as a Nissan GTR or the forthcoming NSX replacement.
A note to Jaguar Cars:
I honestly believe if you build a genuine 2 seater sports car, without deviating into a different type of car by taking away it’s focus or making it too heavy. Stick to performance and fun, with great looks and IMPORTANTLY price it correctly you’d have a world class winner on your hands.
With such a car Jaguar would be well placed to take sales from all the leading prestige and performance cars makers the world over.
It would also excite people about Jaguar’s in way which has been missing in nearly 40 years. This would lead to heightened market placement by the public and would probably attract more potential customers into Jaguar show rooms, thus enhancing the entire Jaguar range.
/Discuss
Here’s an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while and thought I’d share.
A proposal to Jaguar Cars:
Bring back the E-Type!
While the current Jaguar line up boasts some very well designed and overall fantastic cars they do seem to be lacking in an area that made Jaguar great in the first place.
I’m talking about its performance orientated sports cars.
Because at one time Jaguar was considered a sports car manufacturer, with greats such as the XK120 thru XK150, the C-Type, D-Type and of course the E-Type. This sportiness even transpired to the saloons in the forms of the MK2 with its 3.8 litre XK engine it was favoured buy criminals and the Police a like, for its speed and performance.
So the idea of bringing back the E-Type would not be as an intent to replace any of the current range, but more to supplement it in the form of a 2 seat sports car.
The interesting bit:
Don’t, I repeat don’t make a car loosely based on the E-Type as a concept and ethos. But make it a real E-Type. Make it look the same.
Synopsis:
-2 seat sports coupe and convertible
-Front engined
-RWD
-Lightweight
-Focused on performance and fun to drive
-Manual and automatic options
-Priced to sell
Potentially there are at least 3 or 4 model variations to be offered.
All models should be available as a coupe or a convertible and manual (6 speed) or automatic (5 or 6 speed) transmissions.
Base model:
Reintroduce the 3.2 AJV8. No need to develop a small V6 of similar displacement when there is already a suitable powerplant. Also being a V8 would make it more desirable in markets such as the USA. Power should be in the region of 250bhp
Regular model:
This should utilise an n/a AJV8 in either 4.2 or 5.0 form or somewhere in between. Aston Martin has shown that an n/a AJV8 is fully capable of delivering the goods. Power should be in the region of 350-400bhp.
R model:
Roll on the supercharged engine. This should be the top spec model pushing at least 500bhp from probably a 5.0 AJV8 engine running an Eaton M112R supercharger.
RD model:
In this modern world diesels are becoming more popular. So there should also be a diesel version offered (although maybe not at lunch but 6 months after).
However it should not be the normal mundane underpowered sort of diesel that so often appears on the market. This RD model should line up as an alternative to the regular n/a V8 model, or maybe pitched between the n/a V8 and the R. The diesel should be based on the TDV8 as used in the Range Rover. With 3.6 litres and twin turbo’s it should be more than capable of delivering quite stunning performance and with a V8 configuration it should sound the part too. Power should be in the region of 280-300bhp.
Appearance:
The Series IV should be made to look like a Series I or Series II short wheel base E-Type. In a true high fidelity sense of the word.
This would run along the same design principle that Ford did with the GT. It looked just like an original GT40 but modern.
Jaguar should do the same. The E-Type is a great looking car, even by today’s standards and in its day was the car to have. A modern version, I’m sure would sell like hot cakes!
Strip the chrome and make it modern where needed, but retain that classic shape an appearance.
With modern technology there is no reason why the front and rear bumpers couldn’t be incorporated into the shape of the original E-Type, thus retaining the classic lines. The wheel base is probably not too far off what would be needed. The track would probably need to be widened, but this could easily be catered for, even with the use of flared arches as per some of the racing E-Types in terms of visual appearance.
Wheels would need to be modern, maybe in the form of some nice 6 spokes or perhaps something more akin to a Halibrand or lattice alloy to keep with a more retro look. But they should be modern, in the region of 19 or 20” with a decent tyre width such as 255 – 275.
Evidently the car would need to be bulked up to make it safe and meet crash safety standards. So thicker ‘A’ pillars would be needed. But keep the up right windscreen and the swooping rear. The bonnet vents should remain and the rear tailgate could become a hatch for better access and usability.
Interior:
Well it is a Jaguar so it should look good.
But this is a 2 seat sports car, if people want uber luxury and all the gizmo’s they’ll go for the XK8/R instead. So the E-Type S4 should be based on the KISS principle. Keep the interior pleasant and functional. Offer a wood dash and a more modern alternative (alloy or composite of some kind). But don’t burden the car with heavy extra’s it really doesn’t need, this would include too much sound suppression. A sports car should be sporty.
Additional:
The car should have a curb weight of around 1400kg +-. This is a sports car and should not weigh anything more than a Corvette or Porsche 911. If GM and Porsche can build a car to such a weight, there is no reason why the E-Type S4 should end up being an 1800kg porker.
Lightweight aluminium or composite materials should be considered to keep the weight down. Both the Corvette and 4th generation Camaro/Firebirds (1993-2002) used composite panels to great effect and in the case of the Camaro and Firebirds, on a car priced much lower. So it must be a financially viable option.
Pricing and market placement:
This is where it gets difficult. Jaguar could just produce a single variant of the E-Type S4 and price it high, say around £100,000 - £120,000 and hope to cash in on a few sales. In much the same way Ford did with the GT.
I however believe this would be a mistake!
Jaguar have all the means, technologies and ability to produce a car such as the E-Type S4 utilising much of what they already have or could attain from the motoring industry as a whole. If General Motors can build and sell a Corvette at £45,000, Porsche build and sell a Boxster for less and both still make good profit then there is no reason Jaguar can’t do likewise.
I see the allure to sell at a higher price, but surely the maths is simple.
It is far better to sell 4 cars @ £45,000 each than 1 at £100,000.
And in today’s modern financial climate it would be folly to fall into such a trap of high prices and very low volume. Jaguar only need look back to the XJ220 for proof of this.
So in terms of market placement Jaguar should be looking to take on the Porsche Boxster and the 911.
If the E-Type S4 had pricing starting in the high £30k’s for the base model rising to mid £50k for the R.
You could offer a superior car to the Boxster for only a bit more money and a great alternative to a 911 for less money. It would also give Jaguar Cars a weapon to go after potential BMW M3 and M6 drivers, even Ferrari F430 drivers as did the original E-Type back in it’s day.
In the larger world market and American market, such pricing would offer a genuine competitor to the Corvette C6 and even the Corvette C6 z06. Again mimicking the success and market placement of the original E-Type.
In other markets it would offer a classy alternative and capable performer to cars such as a Nissan GTR or the forthcoming NSX replacement.
A note to Jaguar Cars:
I honestly believe if you build a genuine 2 seater sports car, without deviating into a different type of car by taking away it’s focus or making it too heavy. Stick to performance and fun, with great looks and IMPORTANTLY price it correctly you’d have a world class winner on your hands.
With such a car Jaguar would be well placed to take sales from all the leading prestige and performance cars makers the world over.
It would also excite people about Jaguar’s in way which has been missing in nearly 40 years. This would lead to heightened market placement by the public and would probably attract more potential customers into Jaguar show rooms, thus enhancing the entire Jaguar range.
/Discuss
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