Paris Motor Show: Jaguar F-Type PARIS - Jaguar went all out Wednesday night to introduce its new F-Type sports car, a model inspired by the brand's much-beloved E-Type. Despite a driving rainstorm outside the rococo Musée Rodin, the unveiling of the convertible took place as planned, with the chanteuse Lana Del Rey doing a rhapsodic number written in honor of the car. Ian Callum, design director for Jaguar, told the small gathering the design was one of his personal favorites, a substantial claim given the notable beauties created by Mr. Callum for Jaguar as well as Aston Martin, Jensen and others. "The F-Type isn't designed to be like anyone else's sports car," Adrian Hallmark, the brand's global director, said Wednesday. It's a Jaguar sports car: ultraprecise, powerful, sensual and, most of all, it feels alive. Although Jaguar already offers the XK line of sporty coupes and roadsters, the company said the F-Type was its first true sports car since the E-Type was discontinued in 1974. "It's a car from Jaguar's heart," Mr. Callum said in a brief interview. It's a two-seat convertible focused on performance, agility and driver involvement. The soft top may be raised or lowered in 12 seconds at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, the brand claimed, a handy feature for owners suddenly faced with a deluge like the one that visited Paris on Wednesday. The car, weighing 3,521 pounds, is propelled by one of two engines: a 3-liter V-6 mustering either 340 horsepower or 380 horsepower, and the brand's 5-liter V-8 generating 495 horsepower. Whatever the specification, thrust is channeled through an 8-speed automatic transmission. "Every aspect of a sports car, dimensionally, allows us to create something that is visually exciting, visceral as well as physical," Mr. Callum said, adding that he expected the styling of the F-Type, like that of the E-Type, to "stand the test of time." Although fuel economy might not factor highly in a customer's purchase decision, the convertible will offer an engine idle stop-start system to save fuel. Details about a more efficient version of the F-Type were also hinted at, and promised for a later date. Adding some credence to the claim, the C-X16 concept, on which the F-Type was loosely based, incorporated a hybrid powertrain. Production dates and pricing details for the 2013 F-Type were not disclosed. A formal introduction of the F-Type is scheduled during press previews for the motor show, which begin on Thursday.