Jaguar F-Type Coupe to make 2013 LA Motor Show debut

Not a convertible fan but love the razor-sharp styling of the Jaguar F-Type? You’re in luck, as Jaguar has come good on its promise of a closed roof version and is set to unveil its new F-Type Coupe at the 2013 LA Motor Show.

With V6 and V8 power, now the Porsche 911, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Audi R8 really have a fight on their hands. We feel another group test coming…

The heart of any sports car is its engine, and although Jaguar hasn’t officially announced the car’s engine range, we’re sure it’s something that’ll most definitely be true with the F-Type Coupe – as with the Convertible, it’s bound to be a mouth-watering range of powertrains.

If 380 rampant British horses aren’t enough for you, maybe the 495hp V8 will be

We’ll know more when the 2014 F-Type Coupe is officially unveiled at the LA Motor Show on 19 November 2013, but the entry-level F-Type Coupe will likely be powered by the same 340hp supercharged 3.0-litre V6 motor as the drop-top Jag.

Combined with a chunky 332lb ft of torque, it means even the ‘base’ F-Type Coupe should be rather potent – expect the 0-62mph time to be slightly quicker than the V6 Convertible’s 5.3-second effort.

Jaguar

Above this will sit the V6 S – again, a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, this time kicking out a meaty 380hp and an ever-so-slightly massaged 339lb ft of torque. The Coupe should beat the Convertible over the same benchmark sprint, taking around 4.7 seconds.

Just like the regular V6, the F-Type Coupe V6 S’s maximum twisting force is summoned between 3,500rpm and 5,000rpm, meaning you don’t have to be maxxing it to the 6,500rpm peak for strong overtaking performance. A torque-rich mid-range is your friend here.

Finally, though, if 380 rampant British Shire horses aren’t enough for you, there’s likely to be another option: the 495hp, 5.0-litre supercharged F-Type Coupe V8 S.

As well as a significant 115hp jump in power, torque swells by 121lb ft to a maximum of 460lb ft over an even wider band of revs between 2,500rpm and 5,500rpm. Mated to Jag’s smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shift override capability, you’ll need to treat the throttle with care.

Jaguar is claiming the fixed roof F-Type coupe is "the most dynamically capable, performance-focused, production Jaguar ever."

But on top of that, the improved aerodynamics thanks to the Coupe’s smoother rear end should marginally improve efficiency.

It’s never going to win any eco awards, but expect a small increase over the V6’s 31.4mpg combined with 209g/km CO2. The V6 S’s 31mpg and 213g/km CO2 total should improve, too, as will (probably) the 25.5mpg average with 259g/km CO2 from the V8 S.

Jaguar

While we’re sure the 2014 Jaguar F-Type Coupe will be more than just a roof graft, we predict the range of chassis options will mirror the Convertible.

That means the standard V6 comes with sports suspension with fixed-rate damping and no limited-slip differential.

You’ll have to upgrade to the V6 S Coupe to benefit from Jag’s Adaptive Dynamics sports suspension and a limited-slip diff. Going one step further still, the Convertible V8 S gets an electronic active diff, so expect the same for the Coupe.

Constructed entirely out of aluminium, the Coupe should be relatively light (although a 911 Cabriolet does significantly undercut the F-Type when it comes to kerb weight) and strong, the extra torsional rigidity over the Convertible no doubt helping improve agility and balance.

The addition of the roof has arguably improved the F-Type’s styling – not that it was an ugly duckling before, of course.

Even though Jaguar has so far only released on official ‘bird’s-eye’ view image of the F-Type Coupe – pictured above – from test mules seen hacking around the Midlands, the car is extremely close to the C-X16 concept unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The most beneficial feature the Coupe brings is improved boot space

Jaguar director of design, Ian Callum:

"The excitement generated when we revealed the C-X16 concept was terrific; so to now be on the cusp of what I can assure you will be a drama-filled reveal event in Los Angeles for F-Type Coupe is a very significant moment.

"We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the F-Type Convertible, but for me the purity of creating a sports Coupe is a uniquely satisfying process – and I know that both visually and dynamically, F-Type Coupe raises the bar yet again."

Jaguar

That fastback-like profile just works. It looks sleeker and more cohesive than the Convertible to our eyes, like a proper Jaguar coupe should.

We’re not laying into the F-Type Convertible, it’s just we like our British sports cars muscle-bound and brooding, and the roof helps. The 2014 Jaguar F-Type Coupe ticks all the boxes – can you imagine what an F-Type Coupe V8 RS would look like?

Potentially, the most beneficial feature the Coupe brings is improved boot space, thanks to its hatchback opening.

The open-top F-Type’s luggage capacity is really rather woeful, offering just 196 litres of space – that’s 55 litres less than a VW Up! city car. Go for the optional space saver spare wheel and this means you can only just about squeeze a rucksack in there.

Expect the range-opening F-Type Coupe V6 to cost around £55,000

The Coupe should be rather more voluminous, though. There’s no official word on how much stuff it’ll swallow back there, but expect it to be closer to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage’s 300-litre offering.

The cabin will still be trimmed as neatly and as luxuriously as the F-Type convertible is, though. The centre console is still focused on the driver, with that ‘strut’ doubling as a grab handle for scared passengers once again.

Lots of leather, brushed metal and expensive looking items are sure to make the F-Type Coupe’s cabin a focused but comfortable place to be.

Jaguar

Traditionally, the coupe versions of most sports cars have always been cheaper than their convertible brethren. However, one of Jaguar’s main rivals, Porsche, has recently bucked the trend with its open-top Boxster and closed Cayman coupe – £38,237 plays £39,694.

That said, although the Cayman is a coupe version of the Boxster, spec-for-spec, it does actually have more horsepower, so your extra cash does get you a little more oomph.

Level the playing field with the 911 and you’ll see the Carrera Cabriolet is a whopping £8,659 more expensive than the entry-level 911 coupe.

We’re predicting Jaguar will follow this pricing format, so expect the range-opening F-Type Coupe V6 to cost around £55,000 (around £2,300 cheaper than the Convertible) when it goes on sale later in 2014.

MSN Cars will be on the ground at the 2013 LA Motor Show, ready for the Jaguar F-Type Coupe’s official unveiling on the 19 November. We’ll bring you more details on the car’s specification, pricing and on sale date as it’s revealed.

By Sean Carson, contributor, MSN Cars