http://www.lyonheart.com/gallery/lyonheart-k-coupe.html

 

Only 250 cars planned, not available in USA, and > $500K. Not much of a threat

Looks interesting though.

 

That was originally the "Growler"

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/26..._revealed.html

It was "reborn" this time last year

http://www.classicandsportscar.com/n...-the-lyonheart

They may actually get round to making it one day

 

fingers crossed: "new Vantage look at least that good, new Vantage look at least that good..."

 

I don't think so..to far out of the price range..

But Jaguar's new F-Type is going to be something Aston will have to do there homework on for the Vantage..Cheaper price, 495bhp V8 S/C version(detuned, aftermarket can have a ball with this), comes in a manual stick trans avail, same look as Vantage

..again, Aston has some work to do with there new investors To keep up with the other brands at there level and the new emission guidelines, Dr Bez has to get over his "all N.A or nothing" motto and start using forced induction on some model variants

..just my 2cents

 

Irish, you speak my thoughts.

I was browsing one of the auto mags this weekend and they featured a pic of the hard top Jag F. I showed it to my girl and she gasped. My Vantage is the only other car she gasps at. Then I looked at the power and perfomance specs and I gasped.

Yeah, NA is all pure and such, but if your NA isn't doing 100bhp/liter then you need to do SOMETHING.

 

The dealer i bought my vantage at had an F type on the floor and i felt it was in competition with the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxter then anything else..

 

Ya it's got some obvious E-type elements to it, a bit of that ungainly but sexy Jensen vibe ... kind of like the vaguely odd looking but ineffably sexy French woman you can't stop looking at as you sit in a cafe in Paris trying to pretend you're paying attention to your wife

... but they don't quite pull it off IMO. I like the retro wire wheels. But when they try to incorporate modern elements into the design it looks a little forced, not really harmonious. Would love to see one in public though, if they ever produce it.

 

The F Type is trouble for a lot of cars. I have been talking to my Range Rover Dealer about a RR Sport and the F Type has a ton of buzz. The bottom end does target the Boxster S but there is a mid level and a high end that will cross over the 911/ Vantage spectrum, even in to the V12V and be less than each of the competitor with comparable performance and finish. I must admit I am intrigued. Here is my rationale:

I have driven BMW SUV's for nearly 10 years including an M model with great success but I have become disappointed with the style and price value. I have looked at RR's before but the reliability issues have been a dissuasion. After the Evoque received such high praise I revisited the brand and decided to give it a try. After a year of trouble free driving and amazing comfort finish and performance, I have come to realize that the TaTa ownership has had an amazing affect on quality. Having said that, a comparable improvement in Jaguar would be very impressive. Hopefully, it will be a wake-up call and bring about a value added improvement in AM.

 

Is there any chatter at all about the follow up design for the Vantage?

Skirts, air damns and diffusers are only going to go so far. While it may be a timeless design, they've GOT to stand up and be counted again. Creeping up on 10 years is a dangerous game. I'm sure they don't want to kill present model sales by sneak peaking a new style, but something's got to give.

So, anyone know or suspect anything?

 

I was able to get a good sit in an F Type, and it's definitely going to give the Boxters and such a run for their money. Although a great car, it's not an Aston Martin.

 

It will compete with the Boxter and Bmw Z4 not the vantage or 911 IMHO

 

I posted this on another forum:

I recently had a chance to have a good look at the F-Type. I've always been a Jag fan, and I've had an XK140 and an E-Type. I was very excited to see the new car. IMO, it's very, very nice. But it's not even close to being as nice as a V8V. It may well have more tech, but it doesn't look or feel anywhere near as expensive or as finely crafted as the Aston. The difference in quality of the interior materials is massive. The Aston looks like it's worth every single penny of the difference in the cars' list prices. I really like the F-Type and I hope it does well. But the V8V looks and feels like a car in a completely different price range. I don't think there is anything wrong with this, either, as this has always been the case with Jags and Astons, and both are great cars.

 

The F Type will pull sales away from all those mentioned as well as used Vantages and some of the new Vantage market. For those who have just entered the market for a high line sports car the Jag will look awfully good. I can hear the sales pitch now. For less than $100k you can get a new supercharged Jag that will blow away that used Aston or save you $50K over a new Vantage and still outrun it. That sounds pretty good when you are new to the market especially when you have the classic Jaguar name attached to the car. They may well move up to an Aston etc. but the Jag has a lot going for it as a starter in the high end segment. I also think the car will be very appealing to the ladies.

 

This could be a wake up call for AM as well. If they modernize the engine, lighten the total weight and improve the trans keeping it manual you won't be able to compare them. As far as I know the jag will only be automatic. So there will be an element of sportiness lost. What troubles me is AM abandoning the manual trans in the big V12 cars. The more they sell themselves as GT / Cruisers, the more a car like this becomes comparative. They have an oportunity to really set themselves apart with the next car.