Jaguar F-Type design by Ian Callum

The acclaimed Jaguar F-Type design has had no shortage of attention thanks to its exotic looks and an impressive media campaign. Even before the first cars have reached dealers it has began to notch up awards.

To gain the status of 2013 World Car Design of the Year the Jaguar F-Type had to rise above a field of 43 cars. The selection was reduced to a shortlist by an advisory panel of design experts with the final consideration by the 66 World Car of the Year jury members.

Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, said: “No design project has given me greater pleasure than the creation of the F-TYPE. It’s a project I’ve looked forward to from the moment I joined Jaguar, and it’s one that’s given my team and I great satisfaction. The F-TYPE is a sports car that is true to Jaguar’s design values – beauty of line and purity of form – and I’m honoured that the World Car of the Year jury has recognised our work with this award.”

The advisory panel commented that: “The long wheelbase, short overhangs and flared fenders give this car a good stance. The contour in plan view tapered toward the door emphasises the muscular rear fender that houses the driven wheels.

“The F-Type exterior maintains Jaguar’s own elegance in its horizontal proportion and rounded surfaces, yet it looks very dynamic. But I would like to say the interior design is even more attractive. It is clearly driver-oriented, and a grip bar for the passenger is nicely integrated into the big centre console. The seat design is superb, too.”

The award was collected by Jaguar Global Brand Director, Adrian Hallmark at the New York International Auto Show. Commenting from the show, he said: “The F-TYPE is the first full-blooded Jaguar sports car to be launched for more than 50 years. Its architecture and technology are world class, wrapped in an evocative and progressive design that could only be a Jaguar – ‘Callum unfiltered’, as we call it in-house. It is as dynamic yet refined as any Jaguar sports car should be, and is a unique proposition from a performance and price perspective. This combination of factors has clearly inspired this year’s jurors, and we are delighted and honoured to collect this award.”