Jaguar F-type confirmed for Paris debut

Jaguar has confirmed that its F-type sports car will makes its global debut at the 2012 Paris motor show this September.

It will be the first time the two-seater convertible has been seen in production form, following the appearance of a disguised prototype at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this summer.

Jaguar has also confirmed that the F-type will be available with a choice of three petrol engines when it goes on sale in summer 2013. There will be 3.0-litre supercharged V6s with 335bhp or 375bhp power outputs, and a new version of the current supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that develops 503bhp in the Jaguar XK.

All three engines will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and come with engine stop/start technology.

Jaguar C-X16 concept car gives a good idea of how the production version of the F-type coupe will look.

These three engines are likely to be all that is on offer - the hybrid powertrain from the C-X16 concept car that previewed the F-type is unlikely to join the production line-up.

Jaguar F-type prototype in action at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The F-type will slot in beneath the XK in the Jaguar range. Entry-level 3.0-litre V6 models are expected to start from around 55,000, and will be a rival for top-spec versions of the Porsche Boxster.

Pricier models will compete with the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. A coupe version will be added to the range at a later date, but Jaguar hasn't confirmed how long after the drop-top it will arrive.

More information on the F-type will be released at the car's Paris motor show debut.

Tom Webster