2014 LA Auto Show: Jaguar F-Type R Coupe AWD: Comments

[William Maley]

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Jaguar has decided that the F-Type R Coupe needed some sharper claws. So at the LA Auto Show in a couple of weeks, the British luxury automaker will reveal an all-wheel drive version of the F-Type R Coupe. That means that 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque will now be flowing to all four wheels. Performance figures stand at 3.9 seconds for the run to 60 MPH and limited top speed of 186 MPH.

What Jaguar is keeping quiet on is whether or not the all-wheel drive system will be available on the F-Type convertible or Supercharged V6 models. We'll likely learn about that in a couple of weeks.

Jaguar also announced a new partnership with the Bloodhound SSC World Land Speed record group which will attempt to go 1,000 MPH next year. Part of this partnership will be a F-Type R Coupe AWD being used as a radio/backup vehicle when the group goes for their attempt.

"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," said Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director for Jaguar.

Source: Jaguar

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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New All-Wheel-Drive Jaguar F-TYPE R Boosts Bloodhound SSC Record Bid

- Jaguar announces major partnership with British World Land Speed Record Team

Bloodhound SSC to make World Land Speed Record attempt in 2015 then target 1,000 MPH in 2016

- All-wheel-drive is one of a number of performance enhancements to the Jaguar F-TYPE range - the new F-TYPE range will debut at the LA Auto Show on 19 November 2014

- AWD Jaguar F-TYPE R carries out key communications test on the Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape, South Africa

- View the AWD F-TYPE R Coupé in action on the Hakskeen Pan here: www.youtube.com/user/JaguarCarsLimited

South Africa, 6 November: Today, the new all-wheel-drive Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupé ensured the Bloodhound SSC World Land Speed Record programme passed a significant high-speed testing milestone.

The test marks the start of a major technical partnership between Jaguar and The Bloodhound Project, with the ultimate aim of raising the world land speed record above 1,000mph and to assist in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, which is the overall objective of the project. The current record stands at 763.035mph and was set by Andy Green in Thrust SSC in 1997. Andy will drive the Bloodhound Supersonic car.

On the relatively soft surface of the Hakskeen Pan desert in the Northern Cape of South Africa, the stability of the AWD F-TYPE R Coupé and its dynamic ability - it will reach 60mph in just 3.9-seconds with a limited top speed of 186mph - enabled the successful completion of a vital communications test for the Bloodhound SSC team.

Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, 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 AWD F-TYPE R Coupé was driven flat-out by Bloodhound Project Director and former World Land Speed Record holder, Richard Noble who said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce Jaguar as a Main Partner to the Bloodhound Project. This is a very fine match - Jaguar is very strong on innovation and with its huge drive in advanced technology, education and motorsport track record, we have the perfect partner. Together we have developed outstanding inter-team synergy and this is a very special relationship. We are proud to carry the Jaguar branding on Bloodhound SSC."

Fitted with the same radio equipment as the jet and rocket powered Bloodhound SSC, the F-TYPE was driven head-to-head at top speed with a similarly equipped jet flown at 500mph and just 50 feet above the ground. The combined closing speed of almost 700mph enabled the successful test of the system that will allow communications between the ground crew and Andy Green in Bloodhound SSC, which will run for the first time on the Hakskeen desert just twelve months from now.

The addition of all-wheel-drive is one of a number of performance enhancements to the award-winning Jaguar F-TYPE range which will grow from six to 14 derivatives in 2015 - the full range will debut at the LA Auto Show on 19 November.

The Jaguar Land Rover press conference will take place at 14:40 PST (22:40 GMT). Also at the press conference will be Andy Green, who will confirm the full extent of the technical collaboration between Jaguar and the Bloodhound Project.

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[balthazar]

Car's got good performance, but is still stylistically stuck in the 1990s.

[David]

Performance is cool, car is nice looking but I have to agree with Balthazar, it is showing it's age.

[Drew Dowdell]

These can be a handful to drive if you're not careful, I'm sure the AWD will help that a lot.

[smk4565]

I think the F-type looks sweet, especially from the rear 3/4 angle or from behind.  Headlights could have been better.

[ZL-1]