- Ahead of media launch in South Africa
By Moses Akaigwe 08072100049
AHEAD of the much anticipated media launch on Wednesday in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to be attended by journalists from the Sub-Sahara Africa market, including Nigeria, the Jaguar F-PACE recently put on another dramatic display of dynamic precision and control.
After setting the Guinness World Record for the world’s biggest loop-the-loop at its launch last year, the very same record-breaking F-PACE and stunt driver Terry Grant teamed up again recently for a thrilling drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, West Sussex, England.
This time, Grant piloted Jaguar’s first family sports car up the famous Goodwood hill on two wheels. As if that was not enough, professional freestyle motorbike stunt rider Lee Bowers was on board to add even more jeopardy to proceedings.
Bowers is no stranger to two wheels and swapped his saddle for the luxurious leather interior of Jaguar’s first performance crossover. As the F-PACE two-wheeled up the demanding course, Bowers climbed out of the passenger window to stand on the side of the Jaguar and salute the crowd, before climbing back inside ahead of the finishing line.
After the event, Terry Grant, legendary stunt driver, said: “When Jaguar gave me the opportunity to reunite with the F-PACE used to break the world’s largest loop record, I couldn’t say no. Its light, stiff aluminium body and precise controls make it the perfect wheelie vehicle, and it was great to have Lee Bowers along for company – even if he did climb out halfway through our run!”
Even for an expert of Grant’s calibre, the two-wheeled drive required hours of planning. Final preparations were completed at Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire just days ahead of the live event.
For the actual drive, spectators were left in no doubt about the identity of the Jaguar as #FPACE was emblazoned on both the roof and underside of the vehicle.
Jaguar’s first ever family sports car has become the manufacturer’s fastest-selling vehicle. In the first 10 months on sale, more than 14,000 orders have been placed, with all 2,000 First Edition vehicles sold out.
The Jaguar F-PACE is Jaguar’s first performance crossover and its lightweight body structure comprises 80 per cent aluminium. It is the only aluminium-intensive design in its sector and is manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull Plant in the UK.
As Jaguar Land Rover Sub-Sahara Africa prepares to unveil the F-PACE to the motoring press from the region with a test-drive on July 13, the dealership in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, is also looking forward to a grand debut for the performance SUV in Lagos on July 21. Expect reports of both the Port Elizabeth and Lagos events here.