A svelte new British grand tourer will be revealed later this year, inspired by the classic Jensen Interceptor.
Although full details remain under wraps, Jensen International Automotive (JIA) has confirmed that its bespoke GT will feature V8 power.
Based in Banbury, JIA currently specialises in restoring and enhancing the original Jensen Interceptor, even creating a supercharged version boosted by electric motors.
However, the as-yet-unnamed new sports car will be the marque’s first clean-sheet design, based on an aluminium chassis, with the promise of ‘elegant yet striking contemporary’ styling.
It hopes to channel the spirit of the Jensen Interceptor, creating a ‘thoroughly modern take’ on the luxury British GT car.
David Duerden, managing director of Jensen International Automotive, said: “Taking the theme of the luxury British GT to fresh, thoroughly modern heights, JIA’s first car is designed and engineered from the ground up to deliver an unmatched, deeply immersive, V8-powered driving experience.
“While it takes inspiration from the Jensen Interceptor launched 60 years ago, this is certainly no ‘restomod’ or ‘continuation’. It will stand proudly as a completely all-new car in its own right.”
JIA plans to hand-build the new vehicle in the UK, and in ‘ultra-low volumes’ only.
Making use of its decades of experience in restoring and enhancing the original Interceptor, JIA will create a new division focused solely on the rapid development of the new GT.
More details on the specification and design of the JIA GT will be released later this year, The car’s launch comes some six decades after the Jensen Interceptor first went into production.
More than 6,400 examples of the Interceptor were manufactured between 1966 and 1976, in liftback, convertible and rare coupe body styles.
However, the Interceptor’s biggest attraction was its all-American Chrysler engine. Originally offered with a 383-cubic inch (6.3-litre) V8, later models came with a gigantic 440-cubic inch (7.2-litre) motor delivering up to 385hp.
In his Retro Road Test of an Interceptor equipped with the 440-ci V8, our Tim Pitt said: “That engine is the main event. It rumbles like rolling thunder as two twin-barrel Weber carburettors gargle unleaded at a rate of 12.5 miles per gallon. It also pulls like an Amtrak train: effortless and knife-through-butter smooth.”
Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see if JIA can channel the same big-block spirit into its new GT car.
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