GENEVA - Chris Froome + Team Sky launch XF Sportbrake team car.

• Team Sky’s Tour de France 2013 winner Chris Froome joined Jaguar to celebrate the official naming of its highly-anticipated mid-sized premium sedan, the Jaguar XE and the introduction of the new XFR-S Sportbrake at the Geneva Motor Show
• As an Official Partner of Team Sky, Jaguar will provide XFR-S Sportbrake support vehicles to the team from 2014 onwards
• XFR-S Sportbrake, which is based on the acclaimed XFR-S saloon, is the first ever high-performance estate car to be produced by Jaguar
• The XFR-S Sportbrake offers blistering performance, capable of reaching speeds of 186mph, as well as offering high levels of versatility with up to 1,675 litres of rear load space

Team Sky cyclist and defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome was the star of the Jaguar stand at the Geneva Motor Show today for the introduction of the new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake and the company’s official announcement that its new premium sports sedan will be named Jaguar XE. 

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, confirmed: “We recently announced that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. This range of engines will be named Ingenium and the first vehicle to be powered by them will be our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year.”

The Team Sky rider was driven onto the stage in the XFR-S Sportbrake, Jaguar’s first ever high-performance, R-S badged production estate car.

Chris spoke on stage with Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director, Jaguar Land Rover, discussing Team Sky preparations and ambitions for the Tour de France 2014. Chris and Phil also conducted a press conference announcing Jaguar’s Innovation Partnership, which provides design and engineering resources to Team Sky.

Chris Froome confirmed that Jaguar has already advanced its association as an 'Innovation Partner' with Team Sky through the integration of design and engineering resources to further enhance the team's performance.

Jaguar, which has provided technical support vehicles to Team Sky since 2010 – including several XF Sportbrake models during the famous 2012 Tour de France win by Sir Bradley Wiggins – recently announced its new sponsorship agreement for 2014 and 2015. Jaguar is the team’s official Innovation Partner, and the Jaguar logo now features on the race jerseys.

The new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake and new R-Sport derivatives featuring Jaguar’s four-cylinder 2.2-litre 163PS diesel engine, will support Team Sky’s race operations from this year onwards, and will be seen by a global audience of millions during the 2014 Tour de France ‘Grand Départ’ in Yorkshire, UK, in July.

Based on the acclaimed XFR-S saloon, the XFR-S Sportbrake’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 produces 550PS and 680 Nm of torque, giving it a blistering 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph (300 km/h) – and yet, with up to 1,675 litres of rear load space, this premium estate car provides great versatility and practicality, all without compromising on the luxury and refinement expected of a Jaguar.

Chris Froome, Team Sky pro cyclist and defending Tour de France champion, said: “Team Sky is built around performance and so it is fantastic to have partners like Jaguar that share our vision. We are very excited that Jaguar is leveraging its new Innovation Partner designation to work alongside us and our partners. Having the XFR-S Sportbrake supporting us on the road is the ultimate expression of this – we’ll certainly have the fastest car in the peloton!”

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Given Team Sky’s position as one of the world’s leading professional cycling teams, it is only appropriate to be providing them with the new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake – the ultimate high-performance support vehicle. Jaguar is delighted to continue supporting Team Sky’s objective of winning the Tour de France and inspiring people to get on their bikes."