The Next Jaguar F-Type Could Use A BMW 'M' V8… Or Go Full Electric

Jaguar is said to be considering two extremes of power options for the all-new F-type due in 2021 – and one of them uses batteries

Matt Kimberley

20 Nov 2018

The Next Jaguar F-Type Could Use A BMW 'M' V8… Or Go Full Electric

Jaguar is reportedly looking at two very different power options for the all-new 2021 F-Type.

Among ‘a range’ of options for the exceedingly pretty car, which will certainly feature a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol in the name of saving the polar bears, are a 4.4-litre BMW V8 and a fully-electric drivetrain. However, choosing one may make it difficult to physically house the other.

Speaking to Autocar, Jaguar design boss Ian Callum said that there was a future for the F-Type despite sports cars not being a growth market. Jaguar’s ongoing work on EV technology could feasibly create a new F-Type with the batteries below – or part of – the floor of the car and either one or two electric motors powering the rear wheels. Three is possible on flagship all-wheel drive variants.

As well as mulling-over a wholesale switch to battery power, Jaguar has already confirmed the impeding death of its wonderful, charismatic supercharged V8. Interstingly, it will be replaced by the 4.4-litre BMW twin-turbo V8 normally badged ‘50i’ but using various codenames for various slightly-revised versions that fall beneath the N63 and S63 umbrellas.

At its most powerful the M-badged S63 produces 640bhp or so and almost 600lb ft. That would give a future F-Type enough clout to battle the Porsche 911 Turbo S; a fight that the F-Type originally tried to avoid.

The car will use a new chassis based heavily on aluminium and will retain the two-seat layout. Rumours exist of a 2+2-seat spin-off as a spiritual successor to the XK, though. It’s thought that to design the car for traditional engines would hamper the designers’ ability to make the best electric version they can, so it should be interesting to see where this story goes.

In the meantime, check out what happens when you make an F-Type go rallying…

Source: Autocar

Comments

Off topic here, but what happened to CoTW?

Are you new here?

What is CoTW ?

Comment of the week, best garage additions, editor’s pick, all gone, as well as the Car Throttle Android app… According to the very scientific survey I did some time ago there are only about 200 - 300 active CTzens actually left, and heck, apparently you can’t even register a new CT account at the moment… We’re all aware of the fact that Car Throttle is going downhill, but it doesn’t seem like the staff is particularly bothered by that. Sad. Don’t let this community die … :/

Why does it seem as if no company wants to make their own engines anymore?

New engine designs are extremely costly to create. Engineering engines to meet or exceed current power and efficiency standards means a lot of expensive specialized research and engineering.

Increased cost combined with the up and coming electric vehicles make it so there are diminishing returns on how much money you invest into new designs. Nobody wants to put millions into new designs and manufacturing tooling to sell fewer vehicles with ICEs than before.

It’s the same story with sports cars. Nobody want to put millions into a sadly dying market.

Imo:
Use V8 to power the F-type
Use electric to power everything else

Doesnt make (from the environmental point of view) to have an electric F-type that sells in 00’s while selling diesel F-pace that sells in 0000’s

Exactly! Put the EV-engines in normal, boring family cars. They are the best sellers anyway, and usually not particularly interesting for us petrolheads, so use them to save the planet. That way, we can keep the V8s (and V12s etc.) in sports cars and other cars ment to evoke emotions among car enthusiasts

That was my very reply on Chevy going for a twin turbo 4L V8 in the next gen corvette. 😅

You know what I really want to see? Both. I know it’d be somewhat expensive to develop, but I would love to see the two go head-to-head.

reminds me of the electric sls vs the v8 sls

Make the V8, preferably with a manual transmission. If I wanted straight-line performance and weight-related handling issues, I’d just buy a Tesla Model S.