Jaguar F-type coupe to get RS and RS GT versions

Faster RS and RS GT versions of the new Jaguar F-type coupe are likely to be launched in the car's life-cycle, Jaguar design director Ian Callum has hinted.

Speaking to Autocar at the Los Angeles motor show, Callum said there was "always scope" with a car like this to make more potent versions.

"Our obligation is to maximise the opportunity in the car in every direction," he said. "It is clear that the platform is very capable. Whatever the powertrain, the body will work with it."

The initial three models in the Jaguar F-Type coupe range reach the UK next March priced from £51,235, a full £7285 less than the price of the base convertible.

In the US, the base F-type costs from $65,000 (£40,340), more than £10,000 less than in the UK. On the range-topping R, US customers pay $99,000 (£61,400), while UK customers pay £85,000 for the same model.

Despite the gaps between the two counties pricing looking vast, Jaguar global marketing director Steven de Ploey said that once dealer margins, standard specification, currency rates and taxes (sales taxes are added on after the list price) were into consideration, the prices came out quite similar. 

"We're not making more money or ripping off customers in the UK," he said. "I would even argue the UK has one of the most competitive list prices. You have to consider taxes, the currency rates and the fact dealer margins are greater in Europe."

The pricing is also consistent with Jaguar's strategy of pricing the F-type between the Porsche Boxster/Cayman and the Porsche 911 in any given market, de Ploey said.

Launching the F-type coupe and cabriolet a year apart, and with more potent versions to come, marks the latest phase in a developing strategy from Jaguar of staggering its product launches over a model cycle in a similar way to the Porsche 911, rather than all at once.

"We've shot all our bullets on day one in the past," said de Ploey. "We now have a well balanced model cycle plan for each car, upward, downwards and sideways. With the F-type, the R-S is one of those possibilities."

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