2001 Jaguar R-Coupe Concept Pictures, Specifications, Information

Jaguar took a leap into the future with the North American public debut of the R-Coupe Concept at the 2002 NYIAS (New York International Auto Show). Conceived to demonstrate how the company’s design philosophy may develop in coming years, the Jaguar R-Coupe is a prestigious and sensuous four-seater coupe that reinterprets Jaguar’s core design values in a fresh and forward-thinking way.

“We challenged our designers to show how the Jaguar ‘look’ could advance in the years ahead, to reflect the company’s transformation from niche manufacturer to major player in the premium car sector” said Mike Beasley, Jaguar’s managing director. “This represents a long-term vision though, rather than anything that we will see tomorrow. The R-Coupe provides an insight into Jaguar's long term future design philosophy, reaffirming our commitment to create cars that stir people's emotions.”

Classic and contemporary inspiration

The proportions and stance of classic Jaguars from the 1950s and 1960s inspired the powerful look of the R-Coupe, where strong, geometric forms underpin the car’s flowing lines. Exterior detail is restrained but picks up characteristic Jaguar design cues, such as the front grille.

The car’s warm and rich interior puts a contemporary twist on the use of wood and leather, to create a luxurious environment influenced by the latest trends in furniture and interior design. Wood veneer sweeps right round the cabin, leather covers the floor as well as the seats, and many jewel-like details are silver-plated.

“With the R-Coupe we have the ability both to explore and to display our future design philosophy for Jaguar,” says Ian Callum, Jaguar’s design director. “Concept cars like this provide an incomparable opportunity for us to try out new ideas and to experience them in a full-size, three-dimensional format. We’re looking forward to learning a great deal from the reactions of the public too.”

The R-Coupe was not intended for production, but it embodied themes and ideas that could find their way into future Jaguars. The concept is not based on any current or proposed Jaguar chassis, though it is constructed around a realistic four-seater package and a V8 powertrain. Further examples of advanced technology incorporated into the car’s design include F1-style ‘paddle shift’ gear-changing, headlight beams that follow steering direction, electronic door releases, personalization of the interior environment for each occupant and a futuristic, voice-controlled telematics system.