Jaguar primes F-Type Coupe for blast off

JAGUAR today confirmed that its much-anticipated F-Type Coupe will debut in Los Angeles at a secret event webcast to the world on November 19, on the eve of a double-barreled public launch at the Los Angeles and Tokyo motor shows.

The British marque released a single photo of the two-door sportscar, taken from directly above, thereby retaining some of the mystery surrounding the hardtop version of the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type.

Jaguar Australia has confirmed the coupe will land in Australia in the third quarter of 2014, about a year after the local launch of the convertible.

Jaguar design director Ian McCallum promised a “drama-filled reveal” for the coupe in LA.

“The excitement generated when we revealed the C-X16 concept (at Frankfurt in 2011) was terrific, so to now be on the cusp of what I can assure you will be a drama-filled reveal event in Los Angeles for F-Type Coupe is a very significant moment,” he said.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to F-Type Convertible, but for me the purity of creating a sports coupe is a uniquely satisfying process.

“I know that both visually and dynamically, F-Type Coupe raises the bar yet again.”

The F-Type Convertible, which was revealed at the Paris motor show in September last year, was named 2013 World Car Design.

Like the F-Type Convertible, the coupe’s body will be fashioned entirely from aluminium.

Although powertrains and other details remain under wraps, it is expected to get the same three engine combinations as the roadster – two 3.0-litre V6s in 250kW and 280kW forms, and the thumping 364kW 5.0-litre V8.

The coupe form will help Jaguar push further into the domain of the Porsche 911.