By Justin Lee

SINCE THE XK120 and E-type, Jaguar has always had a lithe and sexy two-door coupe in its line-up, and the Advanced Lightweight Coupe (ALC) looks set to continue this rich tradition. Although the present XK8 still looks quite attractive, it was launched 10 years ago, making it far older than any of its rivals and long over due for replacement.

The ALC was shown as a concept car at the Detroit Auto Show last month, and although there was no official announcement that this car would replace the XK8, the fact that it shares its aluminium construction with the present XJ Series indicates that this car is much more than a styling concept.

As with the XJ Series, the ALC’s radical aluminium construction and bodywork is both 40 percent lighter and 60 percent stiffer than if it were built by conventional means. Jaguar also claims that the ALC’s V8 powerplant (no size was disclosed) allows for a 0-100km/h time of under five seconds and a maximum speed of over 250km/h.

In terms of styling, the E-type’s traditional oval air intake has been retained, as well as the provocative bonnet bulges. Also inspired from Jaguars past is the ALC’s taut and lean styling, with the sheet metal styled to look as if it has been pulled and stretched over the massive 21-inch tyres.