Currently reading: Jaguar F-type coupe to get RS and RS GT versions
Jaguar design boss confirms more performance-orientated versions of the F-type coupe are in development

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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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Marc 21 November 2013

I think what he means is, UK

I think what he means is, UK customers are so gullible, they'd buy an overweight dog turd if we put wheels on it, oh wait, they already............................
Bullfinch 21 November 2013

So in other words...

once you add in taxes, the currency rates and dealer margins the car is much more expensive in this country. Why can't these nitwits just say that instead of all this patronising guff?
Herald 21 November 2013

"Not ripping off UK customers"

.... pull the other one: he's hardly going to admit otherwise, is he? Over 23K difference in the cost of an R version, when it has to be shipped across the Pond too. Never believe the money men: bet his reasons for this only cover part of the discrepancy - shows where their main interests lie imo.