Thursday, 6 November 2014

Jaguar to launch AWD F-Type in LA

Jaguar has introduced an all-wheel-drive (AWD) F-Type as one of a number of performance enhancements to the award-winning Jaguar range that will grow from six to 14 derivatives in 2015.

The full range will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 19 November. 

At the JaguarLandRover (JLR) press conference in LA will be Andy Green, who will confirm the full extent of the technical collaboration between Jaguar and the Bloodhound Project.

Jaguar claims the new AWD Jaguar F-type R Coupé helped the Bloodhound SSC World Land Speed Record programme passed a significant high-speed testing milestone.

The test marks the start of a major technical partnership between Jaguar and the Bloodhound Project, with the ultimate aim of raising the world land speed record above 1,000mile/h and to assist in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers which, it is said, is the overall objective of the project.

The current record of 763.035mile/h was set by Andy Green in Thrust SSC in 1997. Green will drive the Bloodhound Supersonic car.

On the relatively soft surface of the Hakskeen Pan desert in the Northern Cape of South Africa, the AWD F-Type was driven flat-out by Bloodhound project director and former World Land Speed Record holder, Richard Noble who said: We are absolutely delighted to announce Jaguar as a Main Partner to the Bloodhound Project. This is a very fine match – Jaguar is very strong on innovation and with its huge drive in advanced technology, education and motorsport track record, we have the perfect partner. Together we have developed outstanding inter-team synergy and this is a very special relationship.  We are proud to carry the Jaguar branding on Bloodhound SSC.”


Fitted with the same radio equipment as the jet and rocket powered Bloodhound SSC, the F-TYPE was driven head-to-head at top speed with a similarly equipped jet aircraft flown at 500mile/h and just 50ft above the ground. The combined closing speed of almost 700mile/h enabled the successful test of the system that will allow communications between the ground crew and Andy Green in Bloodhound SSC, which will run for the first time on the Hakskeen desert 12 months from now.

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