Hilarious though it can be in the right circumstances, the
Jaguar F-Type R
's surfeit of torque over traction may not exactly suit all customers at all times. Hence the arrival of the all-wheel drive F-Type.
Styling unchanged; fine by us!
Being a 2014 JLR launch, there was no danger of the latest F-Type model being announced to the world meekly. At the same time as the AWD F-Type Jaguar has confirmed its partnership with the Bloodhound SSC team. So how better to show the car than at the Hakskeen Pan desert in South Africa? Better than that, the F-Type 'was driven head-to-head at top speed with a... jet flown at 500 knots and just 50 feet above the ground'. Apparently this was to conduct to test of the radio communications that the SSC team will use to keep in touch with Andy Green. It's just a fortunate consequence that it also sounds amazing.
Apparently so caught up in flying jets towards the new car, Jaguar hasn't yet released too many details on the F-Type R AWD. We know it will reach 62mph in 3.9 seconds and the same 186mph limited top speed as the two-wheel drive car. Given Jaguar has said the F-Type range will expand from six models to 14 in 2015 we can probably surmise that means every coupe and convertible model will be offered with four-wheel drive. Are the final two derivatives a RWD coupe and convertible with four-cylinder engines? Or perhaps R-S version of both? Make your own guesses now! All will be confirmed at LA...
Apparently this was a very important test
We have been given some suggestion of the car's handling though. Jaguar's Vehicle Line Director Ian Hoban says of the AWD F-Type that the target "was to maintain the engaging rear-drive character... yet offer even greater dynamic capability". According to him the resulting V8 AWD version is "a controllable, exploitable and blisteringly fast performance car in all weather and road conditions". So it will probably still do the skiddy stuff, don't worry.
The F-Type AWD will be shown to the public at the LA show on November 19, where the rest of the 14-model F-Type range for 2015 will be detailed along with the full extent of Jaguar's partnership with Bloodhound. Low-flying jets are unconfirmed but we'll be there just in case!
Jag promo vid