PARIS MOTOR SHOW: The Jaguar F-Type In The Flesh - This Cat Is Purrrfect From Any Angle!

Jaguar tonight revealed the F-TYPE, an all-new convertible sports car. The new Jaguar F-TYPE represents a return to the company’s heartland: a two-seat, convertible sports car focused on delivering performance, agility and maximum driver engagement. The F-TYPE is a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses a heritage of beautiful, thrilling and desirable cars.

The car was revealed in front of the dramatic setting of the 18th century Musée Rodin. Following the reveal, singer Lana Del Rey took to the stage and performed a new track ‘Burning Desire’, that she has written as part of her collaboration with Jaguar for the launch of the F-TYPE. The track is confirmed to be the sound track to a short film that is being produced in association with Ridley Scott Associates and will be featured on her new album.

Starring Golden Globe nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor Damian Lewis, the short film is scheduled to be filmed in South America next month and will be released early 2013.

Jaguar F-TYPE

The focus on driver involvement and sporting performance in the F-TYPE is emphasized by the asymmetric layout of the cockpit. This is evidenced by the grab handle, which sweeps down the center console on the passenger side, delineating it from the driver’s position.

2012 Paris Motor Show Preview Photo Gallery

Taking inspiration from cockpits of fighter airplanes, the controls are ergonomically grouped by function. Further aeronautical inspiration can be found in the joystick-shaped SportShift selector controlling the eight-speed transmission. The air vents on top of the dashboard will only deploy when instructed to by either the driver or complex control algorithms, staying tucked discreetly out of sight in other circumstances.

Aluminum forms a great part of Jaguar’s commitment to sustainability with more than half the content of the car coming from recycled metal. In addition, the structure of the F-TYPE is exclusively riveted and bonded – this manufacturing process emits up to 80 per cent less CO2 compared to that from welding a comparable steel structure. Jaguar is also rolling out its closed-loop recycling system to its suppliers, ensuring all offcuts of metal from the manufacturing process are reused.

Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar comments: “Jaguar is a founding member of the sports car segment with a rich sporting bloodline stretching over 75 years, and in the F-TYPE we’ve reignited that flame. The F-TYPE isn’t designed to be like anyone else’s sports car. It’s a Jaguar sports car – ultra-precise, powerful, sensual and, most of all, it feels alive.”

2012 Paris Motor Show Photo Gallery