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Jaguar has been plotting multiple F-Type variants for a while now. We’ve had strong suspicions of an AWD variant, as well as a manual model and even a cheaper model with a 4-pot turbo engine. The all-wheel drive variant has now been confirmed and ‘unveiled’ in South Africa as part of a newly announced collaboration between Jaguar and the British World Land Speed Record Team (BWLSRT from here on).
Next year, at the Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape, the BWLSRT will attempt to raise the world land speed record to above 1600km/h with their Bloodhound SSC. Jaguar are aiding in this project by lending the new F-Type Coupe R AWD to the project to help complete vital communications testing.
This testing, on the soft surface of the Hakskeen Pan, is also highlighting the F-Type AWD’s ability to exhibit all its power even under flawed road conditions; enabling the Coupe R model to sprint from 0-100 km/h in under 4.1 seconds. Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director of Jaguar said: “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. The result is a controllable, exploitable and blisteringly fast performance car in all weather and road conditions.”
The all-wheel drive F-Type is part of the plan to expand the line-up from 6 to 14 derivatives in 2015. The full range will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show on 19 November.
