Jaguar F-TYPE from $150,000

Jaguar’s stunning F-TYPE convertible might be accompanied by an equally stunning starting price of just $150,000.

That’s the target Jaguar Land Rover Asia-Pacific boss David Blackhall was negotiating towards with JLR global operations boss Phil Popham in Sydney as the sexy new two-door made its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show.

It blows away speculation the F-TYPE would be priced from close to $200,000 when it goes on sale in Australia around mid-2013, after Jaguar revealed at the Paris motor show that it will position its first two-seater sportscar since the 50-year-old E-Type mid-way between Porsche’s Boxster S and 911 Cabriolet.

However, rather than actually nominate that price, Mr Blackhall named the sportscar he felt was positioned where the F-TYPE should be.

“My ambition would be to place it (F-TYPE pricing) somewhere between the Boxster and 911 with a big focus on the space that Cayman S played in,” he told motoring.com.au. “I don’t know if I can be in that territory, but that’s where I aiming for.”

The Porsche Cayman S, which is currently in remissions between model cycles, was priced as low as $147,500 and as high as $157,300 in its Australian lifespan between February 2006 and April 2012.

“That’s where the volume was for Porsche and we think that’s the right target area for us,” Mr Blackhall said.

Jaguar Australia will import all three specification levels of the F-TYPE so far revealed – the two V6 supercharged variations as well as the supercharged V8.

At the Sydney show media day tomorrow (Thursday October 18), Mr Popham will introduce the car and Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum will explain its sleek form to journalists.

Mr Blackhall described negotiations with Jaguar HQ as positive. They will be crucial to the pricing structure of the F-TYPE, as they encompass equipment and supply levels.

“We are optimistic we will get a really good price positioning and volume matrix for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Blackhall said.

“We are very positive about the capabilities and on-road abilities of this car and very conscious of protecting the brand, but also giving due coverage to the fact this car is not going to be an el-cheapo sportscar.

“Get this car on the road and you understand it is a real contender and competitor with the best the Germans can do.

“We are not going to under-sell the car but at the same time we are hoping to make a statement with this car that gets us a pretty decent volume picture in the segments we are aiming at.”

Latest news from the 2012 Australian International Motor Show at www.motoring.com.au

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