Detroit Motor Show - It’s good news for dads who feared their days of roaring along in a sports car were behind them. Jaguar is building its first 4x4 – and there’s plenty of room for the kids.
The British firm today announced 1300 new jobs to help it create the five-door, five-seater sports utility vehicle, which will cost around £38 000 (R660 000) in the UK.
Firmly aimed at ‘Jag dads’ with children to ferry around, the all-wheel drive car will come with extra grip technology to make it safe and reliable in all weathers.
More practical than the sleek saloons and supercharged sports cars that Jaguar is known for, it is also designed to appeal to busy mums on the school run – for whom it has been dubbed the ‘She-Type’ Jaguar.
To keep the youngsters entertained during longer journeys, the car will also feature on-board wi-fi and a Meridian digital audio system.
NOW IT’S GOT A NAME
It will officially be called the F-Pace when it goes on sale in 2016, as a British rival to the Porsche Macan and BMW X4 crossover. Jaguar’s bosses made the announcement in Detroit on Monday night ahead of the North American International Auto Show, which kicked off on Tuesday.
Design director Ian Callum said: “The F-Pace is our family sports car. It will encapsulate everything that Jaguar stands for – beautiful design, precise handling, a supple ride, luxurious interior finishes and cutting-edge technology.”
It will be powered by a new generation of fuel-efficient two-litre petrol and diesel engines, to be built at the company’s new factory in Wolverhampton. But drivers who want even more power can opt instead for the 3-litre V6 engine used in the Jaguar F-Type.
Global sales director Andy Goss said Jaguar’s aim with the F-Pace was to create the “ultimate practical sports car.”
Daily Mail