Design coup

ALMOST one year after the Jaguar F-Type broke cover with a stunning new convertible, there is now an arguably more delectable alternative - the F-Type Coupé. Viewed as the spiritual successor to the E-Type, the Coupé is both a styling and engineering coup for the British sports carmaker. By giving the F-Type a fixed roof and rear hatch, Jaguar has created a design that is modern and distinctive, yet latently harks back to the 1960s icon. Because depending on the angle of the sun, the F-Type Coupé casts a shadow that is uncannily similar to the E-Type silhouette.

Like the all-aluminium F-Type Convertible, the Coupé's body uses the same lightweight alloy with each side featuring a large single-piece aluminium pressing. There is no centre pillar but Jaguar employs an innovative hydroformed alloy beam to add strength and achieve a roofline low enough to be aesthetically pleasing, yet strong enough to pass a rollover crash test.

The rear end's elegant window line is matched by the equally attractive tailgate, which tapers down between pronounced rear haunches. Like the Convertible, the boot lid conceals a (shorter) rear spoiler that automatically deploys above 70 kmh.