The Jensen name is roaring back to life after nearly half a century in the automotive graveyard. Jensen Motors International has pulled the covers off the new Interceptor GTX, a supercharged V8 monster that delivers 600 horsepower and promises to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. The original Jensen Motors collapsed in 1976, making this comeback exactly 47 years in the making.
Tim Mitchell, CEO of Jensen Motors International, unveiled the new machine at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the car's aggressive stance and muscular proportions immediately drew comparisons to the original 1960s and 70s Interceptor that made Jensen famous. The new company, based in Solihull in the West Midlands, has ambitious plans for just 300 examples of the GTX, each carrying a starting price of £250,000.
The heart of the new Interceptor GTX is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that pushes the car to a claimed top speed of 200 mph. Unlike the original Interceptor, which relied on Chrysler V8 power, the new car features modern engineering throughout, including a carbon fiber body construction and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and adaptive suspension dampers handle the stopping and cornering duties.
Jensen Motors International revived the dormant marque in 2021, but the path back to production has been anything but straightforward. The original Jensen Motors was a small British manufacturer that gained fame for building fast, luxurious grand tourers in limited numbers. Financial difficulties eventually killed the company, and the Interceptor name disappeared from showrooms in 1976 after a production run that totaled fewer than 7,000 cars across all variants.
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The new Interceptor GTX arrives in a crowded field of high-performance British sports cars, competing directly with established names like Aston Martin and McLaren. Mitchell has positioned the car as something different, telling automotive journalists that "we're not just recreating the past; we're reimagining what Jensen can be for the future." The company plans to expand the lineup beyond the GTX, though specific details about future models remain under wraps.
Production specifications show the GTX riding on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires as standard equipment, suggesting serious track capability. The independent suspension system with adaptive dampers should provide the kind of adjustable performance that modern supercar buyers expect, switching between comfort and track modes depending on driving conditions.
The pricing puts the Interceptor GTX in direct competition with the Aston Martin Vantage and Porsche 911 Turbo S, both of which offer similar performance figures but with the backing of established dealer networks and proven reliability records. Jensen Motors International faces the classic challenge of any revived marque: convincing buyers to spend serious money on a brand that has been dormant for decades.
First customer deliveries are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024, assuming production proceeds as planned. The 300-unit production limit means the Interceptor GTX will remain exclusive, though whether that exclusivity translates into sales success remains to be seen. For a brand that once competed with Jaguar and Aston Martin, the new Jensen represents either a triumphant return or an expensive gamble on automotive nostalgia.
Sources: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023 coverage, Jensen Motors International press materials
