Jaguar’s first performance crossover is due to be revealed later in the year and is in its final stages of development. Part of final testing included sending a prototype to Team Sky rider Chris Froome's La Pierre-Saint-Martin training camp as a real-world test of the Jaguar crossover’s performance, durability and clever packaging. The team then chose the same car to support them during stage one of the Tour de France – their most demanding and high profile event.
The job of the support vehicle is to carry a crew of up to four people including the Team Sky Sports Director, doctor, mechanic and another senior team member. The wide, spacious cabin of the F-PACE accommodates the crew in complete comfort while the boot space is the largest in class to help carry the team’s equipment including drinks, energy gels, clothing, tools and spares for the bike.
The training camp was the location for the first in a series of short films, which give an insight into the rigorous testing and development of F-PACE prototypes around the world.
The film captures Froome being followed by the Team Sky F-PACE on a Tour de France recon tackling one of this year’s grueling climbs, as the 2013 Tour winner prepares to mount his challenge for a second yellow jersey in Paris.
The Team Sky F-PACE Prototype will also sport a cutting edge bike racking solution, developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations. The rack has a unique telescopic clamp, designed specifically to optimise the quick-release of Team Sky’s Pinarello Bolide Time Trial bikes.
To mark the reveal of the Team Sky F-PACE and because the car is under wraps until its global reveal later in the year, Jaguar has produced a special camouflage. The soft wrap reflects the performance and design of both the F-PACE and Team Sky and has been inspired by the Tour de France and road racing bikes. It depicts unique carbon textures, rubber and chains interspersed with the iconic Team Sky design to create a stunning, rich, layered effect which will keep the exact design details of the F-PACE secret until later this year.
Jaguar’s Team Sky F-PACE Prototype will only support the team on stage one of the Tour de France in Utrecht on Saturday July 4.