Jaguar F-Type Roadster Will Debut At Paris Auto Show

The public will finally bear witness to the newest Jaguar on September 27, when the highly-anticipated F-Type Roadster makes its debut at the Paris Auto Show. That sound you heard was enthusiasts everywhere preparing to put down their deposits.

The F-Type will be the newest feline to carry on the famed marque’s sports car lineage; one that traces all the way back to the revolutionary 1961 E-Type. That car redefined automotive standards for beauty and performance – if not reliability – and Jaguar has been searching for the right time to anoint a spiritual successor ever since then.

The F-Type may be perfectly suited for the job. Teaser photos reveal a long, slender body with an elegant bonnet and bulbous hips that end with a dynamic rear end. The package is punctuated by an automatic rear spoiler. Priced and built to perform below the XK, the F-Type will face chief competition from the Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Chevrolet Corvette convertible. An F-Type coupe will be released a little over a year from now.

Based on the stunning 2011 C-X16 concept, the F-Type will send power to the rear wheels from its supercharged V6 engine up front. Jaguar has confirmed two iterations so far: one trim making 340 horsepower and the other producing 380. Guess which one we can’t wait to drive?

Beyond its pure growling power, the all-aluminum engine will also exhibit the latest in Jaguar technology. Both models will be equipped with start/stop technology, direct injection and variable valve timing. The extra grunt comes from a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger. An eight-speed ZF automatic transmission controls the gears.

Jaguar has released plenty of teaser photos and videos over the last few months, hinting vaguely at design cues but making no secret about their mission to create a roadster that hits all the traditional Jag keywords: beautiful, agile, inspiring, etc. Check out f-type.jaguar.com to see tire-smoking video of the camouflaged prototype in action.

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