The latest reports suggest that the new Jaguar F-Type sports car, the spiritual successor to the company’s much-loved E-Type sports car, is sold out worldwide till the end of the year. We can confirm that the waiting list in South Africa is “six months plus.” That means while Jaguar Land Rover South Africa had planned a local launch by at least July 2013, its doubtful we’ll many F-Types in 2013.
That is somewhat surprising from the worldwide market when you consider the high price the new F-Type garners. The base model V6 costs around £58 520 (R 800 000) while the top range V8 S costs around £79 985 (R 1.2-million), and that’s before you start with the options list. Showing once again that sales figures and emotional appeal do go hand in hand, because we certainly don’t see waiting lists for the cheaper (down at the lower end of the F-Type scale) Porsche Boxster stretching in 2014, now do we?
Just as a quick reminder of what the Jaguar F-Type has in store for us, three models will be available from launch, each with a different engine. All models are fitted with stop-start and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The F-Type and F-Type S are both powered by a new 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine which can hustle to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and 4.9 seconds respectively. The range-topping F-Type V8 S is way out in front speed wise taking 4.3 seconds to 100 km/h, before hitting a top speed of 300 km/h.
Jaguar claimed it had already received more than 500 pre-orders in the U.K. before the F-Type went on sale. The fact that the new Jaguar F-Type is enjoying great success shouldn’t be such a big surprise to anyone. In a recent interview with Automotive News, global brand director, Adrian Hallmark, revealed that that F-Type sales represent a total of 15 to 20 % of the total 60 000 Jaguar units planned to be sold this year and half of the 2013’s production units are already sold out.
Jaguar is hoping that more than 90 % of F-Type buyers will be new clients to the brand but will these new buyers be willing to wait into 2014 for their car? Cum’mon, they’ve waited nearly 30 years since the Jaguar E-Type, and just look at the thing – what is another few months wait, eh?
