Former Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum told Autocar that the appearance of the next generation model will be shaped by the influence of the C-X75 hybrid show car, presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2010. He noted that currently, the company's management is determining which type of powertrain is optimal for the new F-Type, so that it can compete on equal footing with the Porsche 911.
According to Callum, two key options are being considered: a fully electric version with the motor located in the central part of the body, as well as a hybrid scheme with a V8 engine at the front. The choice between them is now the main question for engineers and management.
The current generation of the sports car will remain on the assembly line for another three years, during which the model will receive a number of upgrades. At the same time, as Callum previously mentioned, work on creating the new generation car should start soon.
The main difficulty in developing the new sports car is the significant costs of creating yet another new platform. Over the last financial quarter, Jaguar Land Rover's losses amounted to almost 500 million dollars, so developing the architecture from scratch or ordering it from third-party companies is currently impractical. Using the solutions laid down in the 2010 concept as the basis for the new F-Type will allow the company to save significant funds.
