The Jaguar F-Type Concept (2000) was a developed version of the XK180, as the company sought to make the car production viable. This is the second in our series of Jaguar concept cars you (sadly) cannot buy, as they were never actually produced.

The XK180 had a superb response from the motoring press, but was only built to generate publicity, even though it was fully working which was rare for a concept car. I am of the opinion that the XK180 was intended for production, I think a limited edition sports car wasn’t what Jaguar needed.

Jaguar then began to investigate a production model that would satisfy the demand the XK180 had created. The designer responsible for the follow up would be Keith Helfet, who had designed the earlier XK180.

The F-Type was to be a clean sheet design, this meant less of the constraints of having to work with an adapted platform. Free of the restriction of the XK8 platform, Helfet designed the F-Type to be smaller and more lithe. While the platform was bespoke, the car was deliberately built to house the AJ V6 engine already in use in the S and X-Type cars. This would give the new F-Type a range of proven engines.

First revealed at the Detroit Auto show in 2000, the F-Type had an excellent response and Jaguar representatives said the car would be on sale in 2002. Getting the car to production would prove more of a challenge. The design Director Ian Callum, suggested a mid engine layout to maintain the cars pretty lines. In the end Jaguar decided to focus it’s effort on diesel engines and the project was mothballed.

I think it’s one of the most coherent and beautiful concept cars ever; I’m sure it would have been a highly successful car if it was launched. The concept car can be found at the Heritage Museum in Gaydon, UK. More information here.

The Jaguar XK180 concept (1999) is the first in our series about Jaguar’s habit of creating some really desirable concept cars they never put into production. Designed by Keith Helfet, the designer of the XJ220 and XK41/42. Project XKD was a sports car based on a shortened XK8 platform. The XK180 was built to celebrate 50 years of the XK sports cars.

Jaguar XK180 Never To Be Sold

Nick Scheele the chairman and Managing Director of Jaguar unveiled the XK180 at the Paris Salon in 1998. Scheele explained that while the XK180 was built to celebrate 50 years of the XK cars, it would not be sold. The technology on the car, like the large brakes, supercharged engine, alloy wheels and suspension components would be used on future Jaguars.

While a sensational looking car, Jaguar already had the more mainstream XK8 sports car range. The prospect of an expensive limited edition sports car might have worried Ford, after the issues around the XJ220. There were still a few XJ220’s on delivery mileage in 1998, so I’m sure Ford didn’t want to add to this exotic but costly collection.

A Working Concept Car

It’s interesting that Scheele said the car would never be built, because the concept car itself was fully functioning (see video below). Usually a concept car it just that, no real substance beneath what you can see. Jaguar’s Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) department had built two XK180s that both worked. I wonder if the XK180 was intended for production after all?

The XK180 used the floor pan from the XK8 sports car, with 20cm trimmed from the front and rear overhangs and about 13cm from the wheelbase. The engine and gearbox was from the XK8, the engine was the supercharged 4 litre. The gearbox was modified with up and down gearshift buttons. The aluminium bodywork was done by Abbey Panels, a company which did the coachwork on the 1950s C and D type racers, and later the XJ13.

The XK180 design clearly takes some of the cues from the old XJ13 and D-Type. The curved windscreen and bonnet louvres in particular mirror that of the XJ13.

The taut lines look timeless and elegant, a fitting 50th anniversary for the XK cars. The Jaguar XK180 would later be developed into the first F-Type project. More can be found on the XK180 on the Jaguar Heritage site.