Automotive Engineer

Jaguar will build the F-Type sports car. The lightweight two-seat convertible will be launched later this year and hits the market in 2013. It is an essential element in the firm's expansion plans.

Jaguar makes big luxury sedans and coupes but needs smaller, higher volume models to attract more consumers to the brand and increase market share. The F-Type will enable the firm to compete against vehicles such as the Porsche Boxster. It will also act as a halo product for the forthcoming sedan that will compete against the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

Jaguar's vehicle line director, Ian Hoban, said: "The engineering development of the F-Type has focused on delivering a heightened level of dynamic driving reward. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved."

The all-aluminium F-Type is based on the C-X16 concept shown at the 2011 Frankfurt motorshow. Unlike the larger XK 2+2 coupe, the F-Type is a strict two-seater. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a new family of gasoline engines.

The specification of these has yet to be confirmed but the C-X16 featured a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 developing 280kW/450Nm – this should be much more fuel efficient than the 5.0-V8s used in the XK.

Transmissions are likely to be the eight-speed ZF automatics used in the XF sedan – Jaguar does not have any models in series production with a manual option. The Boxster's flat-six engines are paired with seven-speed manual and dual-clutch transmissions.

The automatic is also hybrid-compatible: the C-X16 concept used a 70kW/235Nm electric motor and 1.6kWh Li-ion battery to give it a top speed of 298km/h but CO2 emissions on the NEDC of 165g/km.

The F-Type will be built alongside the XK coupe and XJ sedan at the Castle Bromwich plant in the UK.