Jaguar will unveil the F-Type R AWD Bloodhound SSC RRV — one of the cars that will support the Bloodhound world land-speed record attempt next year — at Coventry MotoFest (
coventrymotofest.com), which opens tomorrow and runs until Sunday.
The car is the latest JLR Special Vehicle Operations project; it has a bespoke livery created by Jaguar Design that incorporates the Bloodhound SSC colours. It will be taking part in laps on Saturday and Sunday.
As a technical partner of Bloodhound SSC, Jaguar is supplying engines, engineering expertise and a number of support vehicles for the record attempt. The F-Type has already fulfilled a critical role in the development of the Bloodhound SSC, with a communications test last November.
Fitted with the same radio equipment as the Bloodhound SSC, it was driven at top speed head-to-head with a similarly equipped jet flying at 500 knots and just 20ft above the ground. The combined closing speed of almost 700mph provided a stern test for the system that will allow communications between the ground crew and driver Andy Green in the Bloodhound SSC.
Joining the Bloodhound F-Type at the motor show will be a line-up of Jaguar heritage vehicles, including a 1956 D-Type Long Nose and the 1966 XJ13 — the only one of its kind in existence. A 1974 Group 44 E-Type, a 1976 Broadspeed XJ12 Coupé and the 1988 Le Mans-winning XJR-9 will also see action over the weekend, while a 1938 SS 100 will be on static display.
Meanwhile, JLR reports that it had a record April, selling more than 37,280 vehicles. The company singled out the strong performance of its Land Rover brand, with 31,938 units sold — an increase of 278 on the same month last year. More than 5,340 cars were sold under the Jaguar brand.