The F-Type needs a roomier, comfier sibling
After two generations and nearly 20 years of production, Jaguar finally stopped producing the gorgeous XK in 2014. It was effectively replaced by the F-Type, but that’s more of a luxury sports car than a grand tourer. If design head Ian Callum has his way, though, the XK could eventually make a comeback as a true four-seat grand tourer that Jaguar sells alongside the sportier F-Type.
At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance earlier this year, Callum broached the subject with Autocar, telling the British publication, “I want a two-seater and a 2+2. We’re working on something now. There’s nothing approved, but we instigate in design. That’s what we do.”
Last month, Callum spoke with Autocar again, saying, “The XK being dropped was much to my frustration.” He also added that he has “quite different ideas… as to how to carry four people quickly around the world.” That sure sounds like a grand tourer to us, presumably one a good bit larger than the two-seat F-Type.
The challenge, though, sounds like it’s going to be convincing the bean counters that there’s a market for a true GT car alongside a sporty coupe. Jaguar reportedly designed a successor to the XK but scrapped it to make room for F-Type. “The F-Type was never meant to kill the XK,” said Callum.
At the moment, it sounds like the XK replacement is more of a pet project for Callum than it is a definite product plan. But we’d love to see Jaguar offer two coupes alongside each other. With the larger XK handling grand touring duties, the F-Type could become even sportier than it already is. To us, that makes perfect sense.
Source: Autocar