Next Jaguar F-TYPE could be pure-electric

Jaguar is considering reinventing its next-generation Jaguar F-TYPE as a pure-electric sports car, it has been revealed.

According to Autocar the replacement for both the coupe and roadster, due to arrive in 2021, could switch to battery-electric power to help future-proof it and extend its shelf life.

As well as a pure-electric powertrain, as revealed back in October, Jaguar is also pondering the option of gifting its Jaguar F-TYPE a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 sourced from BMW.

In any case, according to the Brit mag, the current F-TYPE that's already six years old will have to soldier on for at least another two years before it is replaced.

"Being a specialist car, it will have a longer life than the mainstream models," design chief Ian Callum told Autocar.

"Despite sports cars not being a great growth area, there will be a future for the F-TYPE."

According to Callum, if a decision is taken that the F-TYPE will ditch its internal combustion engine altogether, the next coupe and roadster could be as bold as the original E-Type.

That's because without the constraints of having to package a large petrol engine and transmission, designers would be freed up to create a more daring and radical interpretation of a sports car.

Engineers, meanwhile, will relish the low centre of gravity that comes as a result of mounting the lithium-ion cells low in the chassis, while some of the physical weight of the large batteries could be offset by the extensive use of aluminium and composite materials.

Like the Jaguar I-PACE, it's likely the next F-TYPE will come powered by twin motors mounted on each axle, providing for all-wheel drive.

Expect it to produce significantly more power than the battery-powered I-PACE SUV, which produces 300kW plus 700Nm of torque.

If senior Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) execs offer the second-generation F-TYPE with both petrol and pure-electric powertrains, the British car-maker's sports flagship is likely to come with a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 that currently delivers up to 460kW in the BMW M5 Competition.

As well as potentially making it pure-electric, Jaguar is also rumoured to be considering replacing both the two-seat coupe and roadster with a larger, roomier 2+2 grand tourer that could even hide a pair of rear doors. If so, the next-gen F-TYPE will finally fill the void left by the discontinued XK.

Finally, if that's not exciting enough for fans of sporting Jaguars, Callum has told reporters in the past of his desire to create yet another sports car that would feature a mid-mounted hybrid powertrain.

If so, that car is expected to take on supercars like the McLaren 570S and the Audi R8.

It's not known when that car could emerge, however.

Before the current F-TYPE is pensioned off, Callum said a raft of improvements will be introduced to the existing model.

"[It] will be improved dynamically and in other areas and there will be weight reductions," he said.