By ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR
A legendary British muscle car, which went out of production 50 years ago, is set to be reborn as a luxury model for the 21st century - and it won't be powered by batteries and electric motors.
The returning classic will be built near Oxford and powered by a V8 petrol engine, bosses behind the new project promise.
Banbury-based car firm Jensen International Automotive (JIA) on Wednesday confirmed that its 'all-new, ultra-high-performance, luxury Grand Tourer' will arrive this year.
And from the single teaser image shown, the new car is set to follow in the tyre tracks of the iconic Jensen Interceptor, with a two-door shooting brake silhouette.
The original interceptor was hand-built at the Kelvin Way Factory in West Bromwich near Birmingham by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976.
Today, a sixties Interceptor can cost from around £15,000 to £61,000 for a pristine example.
Jensen International Automotive has released its first teaser image of its first 'all-new, ultra-high-performance, luxury Grand Tourer' which is likely to carry the legendary Interceptor name some 50 years after the iconic British classic went out of production
JIA until now has specialised in the restoration and modernisaton of existing classic Interceptors, creating 'restomods' such as the supercharged Interceptor R.
However, the engineering firm claims this will be its first 'clean sheet' creation that it will design from the 'ground up' in a nod to the original.
While the model is yet unnamed, there is an expectation that it will carry the Interceptor badge or a moniker that's pays tribute to the 1960s shooting brake.
The first - and only - official picture shared shows the outline of a vehicle with a characteristically expansive bonnet, raked roofline and extremely long wheelbase.
The original interceptor was hand-built at the Kelvin Way Factory in West Bromwich, Birmingham, by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. Today, a sixties Interceptor can cost from around £15,000 to up to £61,000 for a pristine example
The returning classic will be built near Oxford and powered by a V8 petrol engine, bosses behind the new project promise
Like the original, it will be hand built but in exclusive 'ultra-low' volumes, which will likely mean a steep asking price for each example.
There is currently no word on how much it could cost.
'The car will blend an elegant yet striking contemporary body design with an aluminium chassis and a bespoke V8 engine to ensure a fully analogue driving experience, delivering a thoroughly modern take on a luxury British GT,' the company said in a statement.
This would suggest the new model will not only use a conventional petrol powerplant but also be linked to a manual gearbox in a back hand to electrification.
If it is to embody the original Interceptor (pictured), it is likely to feature an abundance of physical controls and switches in the cabin - though no images of the interior have been shared
Automotive publication Autocar believes it will adopt the 6.2-litre eight-cylinder power unit from the existing Chevrolet Corvette sports car.
This puts out 495bhp as standard, though is likely to be fettled by JIA to ensure it is 'bespoke'.
The use of an American muscle car's engine would be another reflection of the original Interceptor, which used a 6.3-litre big-block Chrysler V8.
When new, it was quoted as developing 250bhp and was capable of reaching speeds of nearly 140mph - monumental performance for any car in the 1960s.
If the reborn Interceptor it is to embody the original car, it too is likely to feature an abundance of physical controls and switches in the cabin - though no images of the interior have been shared.
David Duerden, JIA's managing director, 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’ and will stand proudly as a completely all-new car in its own right.'
The 1960s Interceptor briefly came back into production under the stewardship of new investors trading under the name Jensen Cars Limited in the late 1980s, and again in 1998. However, the business went into administration in 2002.
JIA was established in 2010 with backing from Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone.
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