Jaguar Isn't Giving Up on Sports Cars, But Don't Expect the Purity to Last

Think of the words “Jaguar” and “sports car” and the mind instantly conjures up images of the flowing XK120 and E-Type roadsters of yesteryear, each sporting a properly British straight-six engine under a kilometer-long hood. Okay, okay — the final E-Type variant doubled the cylinder count, but you get the idea.

The tradition of open-top two-seaters continues to this day with the F-Type, albeit with a much more diverse array of engine offerings. As the tech press talks up a future of autonomous people pods, and as crossovers threaten to overwhelm every longstanding brand, Jaguar wants automotive puritans to fear not: the Jaguar sports car isn’t going anywhere.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t change with the times.

Speaking at an event in Detroit last week, Jaguar design boss Ian Callum told Automotive News that the F-Type won’t be the last of the brand’s two-door sports car lineage. It’s just the latest.

“We are going to do another range of sports cars eventually,” said Callum. “[Sports cars] are not going to go away.”

Journos hailed the F-Type’s debut in early 2013 as a return to form for the brand, with the model coming on the heels — and borrowing a modified platform — of the four-seat XK series. Available in droptop and coupe variants, the F-Type offers powerplants ranging from fast enough to wild.

Still, great looks and thrilling handling dynamics aren’t a surefire indicator of sales. The F-Type, along with all other passenger cars, sport or otherwise, faces an existential threat from utility vehicles, driverless technology, and environmental regulators. There’s also healthy competition from within the segment. As well, some would-be buyers might see more practicality in a hotter F-Pace SUV.

“SUVs can get around a corner as quick as a sports car can, technology being what it is,” said Callum. “But there is something very emotional about a sports car that conveys the ultimate in the sense of performance and design.”

Hoping to sweeten the pot, Jaguar dropped a 296-horsepower turbocharged four into the base F-Type for 2018, allowing for a pre-delivery MSRP below the $60,000 threshold. Buyers can still opt for a supercharged V6 or V8, with 575 hp on tap for those willing to drop $122,000. However, after a healthy start to the year, the last two months have seen year-over-year U.S. sales drops, with July being the lowest showing since April of 2014. The 2015 model year was the F-Type’s best, with 4,629 units sold.

As there’s no successor in sight, Jaguar will do what it can to keep the F-Type fresh. Callum won’t say when we’ll see a new sports model, though Jaguar Land Rover’s North American CEO, Joe Eberhardt, confirmed to AN that the successor won’t rely solely on gasoline for propulsion. As the automaker switches to electrified powertrains starting in 2020, any sports car will share the same mold.

[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]