Jaguar's Russ Varney discusses the new F-Type R at the L.A. Auto Show.
While other carmakers, such as rivals Lexus and Porsche, are moving away manual transmissions, Jaguar is moving in the opposite direction. In fact, the sports luxury brand appears to be creating a Jag for type of driver.
Executives from Jaguar Land Rover used the Los Angeles Auto Show’s press preview to announce that the planned to introduce a Jaguar F-Type equipped with a V6 engine and a six-speed manual gear box built by ZF as part of the company’s overall effort to broaden the F-Type line-up, according to Russ Varney, chief program engineer, Jaguar Sports Cars.
However, not only did the venerable British marque add a little gear-shifting fun to its line-up, it’s also making sure that if you want all four wheels to do the work of just two, that’s available now as well: the F-Type R Coupe can be gotten with all-wheel drive and, in the U.S., a 550 horsepower V8 engine.
Varney said the goal is to keep the F-Type line-up fresh and offer variants that will bring new buyers into the Jaguar family by using the lure of F-Type’s sleek silhouette with different variations.
The new F-Type R Coupe gets all-wheel drive with its 550 horsepower V8. In the V6 version, drivers can get a manual gearbox
The introduction of all-wheel version of the F-Type will make more “accessible” in all kinds of conditions. But it remains a pure sports car at heart, Varney said. The goal is to insure that performance and agility back at the heart of the Jaguar brand.
While the additional of a manual transmission will raise the profile of the F-Type, it’s the addition of all-wheel drive that is likely to increase sales. Even in sports cars, the take rate of manual transmissions have been declining in recent year, while that of all-wheel has been on the upswing.
All-wheel-drive has become a must for luxury manufacturers, particularly if they hope to compete in the Snowbelt regions of the critical U.S. market. All-wheel-drive offers potentially significant benefits in the sports car segment where it can be a challenge for a manufacturer to ensure power gets to the wheels at launch, while enhancing stability and grip in corners.
Since it was first unveiled two years ago, the F-Type has won more 90 awards from all over the world, becoming a visible symbol of the Jaguar’s revival in recent. In addition, 75% of the buyers of the F-Type are new to the Jaguar brand, and 90% F-Type Coupe buyers come from other brands.
(Jaguar reveals new “instinctive” AWD F-Type R Coupe. For more, Click Here.)
The F-type model line will grow to 14 different variations next year and more variants are planned. F-Type remains the definitive Jaguar sports car. It’s a more complete range and an F-Type to pursue every taste.
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“It’s not about expansion,” Varney said. “It’s about having an F-Type to suit every taste.”
The other improvements in the F-Type include torque vectoring and an electric power steering system that a well modulated and well tuned to offer drivers feedback that keeps them connected to the road, he added. “We believe EPAS offers the key to greater band width in tuning,” Varney said.
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The new control apps programmed into the new models also enhance the F-Type’s character and convenience. For example, the new control app, with its cleaner, more intuitive faces, allows the driver to start the car or bring the cabin to a pre-set temperature, making the car more comfortable or for and the driver and the passenger.