MANILA, Philippines – Last Thursday was a zestful day for Jaguar enthusiasts, as Jaguar Cars, Inc. (JCI) – the exclusive distributor of Jaguar vehicles in the country – launched the much-coveted Jaguar F-type Coupé in the Philippines. The F-type Coupé is now available for the tasteful driver to experience, and comes in 2 variants: The F-type S, that comes with a 380HP, 3L supercharged v6 engine; and the F-type R, which comes with a more powerful 550HP, 5L supercharged v8 engine. Also present at the media unveil was lovely Jaguar brand ambassador Georgina Wilson.
“Visual appeal is fundamental to Jaguar and the F-type Coupé builds on the design of the stunning C-X16 concept sports Coupé and the F-type convertible, which won the 2013 World Car Design of the Year Award,” explained JCI President and Chairman Wellington Soong at the launch event.
The new, all-aluminum F-type Coupé is the most torsionally rigid production car Jaguar has ever built. Maintaining the car’s low mass albeit preserving its extremely rigid body was key to its sporty driving dynamic. Equally impressive was how the brand’s design vision was not compromised by the engineers’ efforts to exploit the car’s physics. Clearly, there is a lack of B-pillars in this car, to establish a low roofline and exude a dramatically sleek body. This was achieved by using a high-strength, hydro-formed aluminum alloy beam from the front of the A-pillar to the back of the D-pillar; running through the door opening line and towards the rear quarter window. The only body panel that is not aluminum in the F-type is the tailgate, which is made from composite materials.
“Creating a sports Coupé is the purest of design tasks,” remarked Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design. “Get it right and aesthetically the result will be as dynamic as the car should be rewarding to drive,” he added.
Impressively, the F-type Coupé’s body side is made from a single piece of cold-formed, AC600 aluminum (also used for structural reinforcement), eliminating the need to use multiple panels and for having any cosmetic joints on the sides. The result is a seamless and flowing single-piece aluminum stamping body side. Meanwhile, AC300 T61 aluminum is also used in the car’s body structure, to capitalize on the energy-absorbing properties of the substance, and thus maximize occupant safety. Selecting any of the available aluminum or panoramic glass roof panels does not compromise its torsional rigidity.
“In the F-type Coupé, I believe we’ve got it right,” exclaimed Callum. “The purity of the C-X16 concept has been retained without compromise; the F-type Coupé’s long bonnet, low roofline and tapering cabin inspires me every time I see it,” he said.
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The F-type Coupé is also equipped with a hidden rear spoiler that automatically rises at 110kph and lowers when the speed drops below 80kph.
What is also worth knowing is that because aluminum forms a significant part of Jaguar’s commitment to sustainability, up to half of the content of its body comes from recycled metal. The company also makes use of a manufacturing process of riveting and bonding that emits up to 80% less carbon emissions compared to regular welding.
If you would like to catch a glance of the gorgeous new F-type Coupé models in the metal, you may pay a visit to the Jaguar Lifestyle Center located at 32nd and 4th Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City.
