Jaguar’s history is tied to sports cars, something the British automaker hasn’t really built in the past few decades. That’s about to change with the introduction of the new F-Type, scheduled to hit the market in the middle of next year. Designed as a driver’s car and coming first in roadster form, the F-Type will be powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 good for 380 horsepower, and there’s even talk of a V-8 for range-topping models.
As you can hear in the video above, no audio system will be necessary (although we’re sure Jaguar will include one). When wound out, the forced-induction six sounds impressive, and we’d be happy listening to that sound all day long. The car looks good, too (despite the camouflage), and the development prototype certainly seems to handle well enough.
The big mystery remaining is the price. The F-Type will do battle with cars like the Porsche Boxster, which starts at about $50,00, and the BMW Z4, which begins at about $49,500. If Jaguar can keep the price in the same ballpark for a car with more power and balanced handling, we have no doubt that the F-Type will prove to be the hit that Jaguar needs. Better yet, it has the potential of luring new buyers into the fold, ensuring that the brand from Coventry has a long future ahead of it.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
