Today, in the South African desert on Hakskeen Pan, Jaguar unveiled the new 2016 F-TYPE R Coupe featuring all-wheel-drive technology, a first for the F-TYPE line-up. Expanding its dynamic capability of reaching 60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a limited top-speed of 186 mph1, standard Instinctive All-Wheel-Drive® and Intelligent Driveline Dynamics will provide F-TYPE R drivers with improved traction and confidence in a variety of road conditions2.
The addition of all-wheel-drive is one of a number of performance enhancements to the award-winning Jaguar F-TYPE model range which will grow from six to 12 derivatives in the 2016 model year – the full model range will debut at the 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show on November 19.
“Our target with engineering the all-wheel-drive F-TYPE was to maintain the engaging rear-drive character that’s so important to Jaguar sports cars, yet offer even greater dynamic capability.” – Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar
The reveal also marks the start of a technical partnership between Jaguar and Bloodhound SSC. With the ultimate aim of raising the world land speed record to above 1,000 mph, Jaguar assisted the Bloodhound SSC team in successfully completing a vital communications test at the Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
On the relatively soft surface of the Hakskeen Pan, the stability of the F-TYPE R AWD Coupe was demonstrated as it was driven flat-out by Bloodhound SSC chairman and former world land speed record holder, Richard Noble.
Fitted with the same radio equipment as the Bloodhound SSC, the F-TYPE was driven at top speed towards a jet flown at 500 mph and just above 50-ft above the ground. The combined closing speed of almost 700 mph enabled the successful test of the system that will allow communications between the ground crew and Andy Green in the Bloodhound SSC, which will run for the first time on the Hakskeen Pan just twelve months from now. Andy Green currently holds the supersonic land speed record of 763.035 mph which he set in the Thrust SSC in 1997 in the U.S.
Full details of the new 2016 model year F-TYPE model range will be announced at the 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show on November 19. The Jaguar Land Rover press conference will take place at 2:40 pm PST (22:40 GMT). Andy Green will be available at the press conference to confirm the full extent of the technical collaboration between Jaguar and the Bloodhound SSC program.
