11 Jan 05
Jaguar has revealed the concept that will replace the current XK coupe. The concept coupe is said to "herald a new generation of stunning sports coupes and saloons" and to emphasise the idea that the next generation of Jaguars will be true drivers' cars. A 2+2 known simply as the Advanced Lightweight Coupe, it is built around a lightweight aluminium structure as used in the latest XJ range, and Jaguar says that "in production form the Advanced Lightweight Coupe would be as dynamic and agile as it is desirable." Sounds as if it's a fairly serious contender for production reality, then.
Designed under the direction of Ian Callum, the ALC is striking yet quite conservative: it reflects aspects of the outgoing XK range, and owes less to the adventurous R-D6 concept car than to other Ford Premier Automotive Group creations such as the latest Aston Martins and even, from the rear view, the Volvo YCC concept car with its hatchback-style tailgate and strong rear quarters. "I firmly believe that Jaguars should appear powerful as well as elegant", said Callum at the car's unveiling. "Look back at the great cars from our past and you will see that they were as muscular and taut as they were subtle and curvaceous. That's what confident Jaguar design is all about."
Callum went on to say that "nothing is superfluous on this car. If you point at any part of the bodywork it is there for a specific reason or because it simply can't go any further in. We have produced a skin that is drawn taut across the chassis; one that covers the bare essentials underneath and nothing else - that's how a sports car body should be formed."
Jaguar says that the ALC's grille indicates the "look of future Jaguars", whilst it also reminds us of Jaguars past, such as the E-Type. It has more angular headlights than older Jags, though, and new chrome side 'gill' air vents similar to those on the Land Rover (and the Hyundai Coupe, for that matter). The interior follows a similarly minimalist approach, intended to be "clean, simple and straightforward", according to Callum. It is trimmed in tan leather with aluminium trim detailing, sports front seats, two bucket-style rear seats and a telematics control system with LCD touch-screen; Jaguar says that it is "more spacious and better-packaged than previous Jaguar coupes, with impressive headroom". The ALC is the first Jaguar to feature sequential-shift transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddleshifts.
This show car sits on 21-inch alloys with custom-made Pirelli tyres and features technology already available in the current Jaguar production ranges, and whilst Jaguar isn't giving too much away about the engineering under the bonnet, the ALC has definitely been developed to take a V8 engine. It would theoretically be capable of a good 180 mph and 0-60 acceleration in less than five seconds, giving Jaguar a car that could take on the likes of the Porsche 911 and its PAG stablemate, the upcoming Aston V8 Vantage. Actually, forget the "theoretically" - Jaguar has definitely done the maths. "The Advanced Lightweight Coupe is the sort of Jaguar we want to build", says CEO Joe Greenwell. "But that means we must do much more than just come up with a beautiful design, we must have the tools in place to turn that creative spark into something tangible. What people should recognise is that we have the people in place to allow this to happen. The company's engineering team is as strong as it has ever been and this new generation of engineers is all set to follow in the footsteps of great names from Jaguar's past." With the recent cash injection from parent company Ford, they must be ready for the green light.
