New Jensen Interceptor GTX breaks cover as a track-focused V8 beast to mark a new era

The Jensen Interceptor is a classic, and now there’s a new one.

Like the previous model, the new Interceptor is powered by a V8.

But just about everything else is different.

They even made a track-focused one.

The Jensen Interceptor is one of the most underrated British cars

The Jensen Interceptor has always flown under the radar.

Car collectors and enthusiasts know of its existence, but everyone else generally doesn’t.

Some people may only find out about it if they Google ‘cars with the best names‘, which is a listicle the Interceptor is often featured in.

Unveiled in 1966, this car’s ‘career’ lasted exactly 10 years, with around 6,400 units built in total.

Theoretically, the British manufacturer built a hatchback version along with a convertible variant and also a coupe option.

In practice, the one people always think of is the hatchback, which, if unveiled today would probably be called a fastback or maybe a shooting brake.

Tomato-tomato, because what matters is that the Interceptor is an underrated legend.

And now there’s a new one.

Meet the new boss [not] the same as the old boss

For once, the expression ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’ doesn’t apply because the new Interceptor doesn’t have a lot in common with the old one.

Apart from the V8.

To be fair, that’s probably the most important similarity because, like the old one, the new Interceptor uses a V8.

In this case, it’s a supercharged 6.8-liter unit, delivering 960 horsepower to the rear wheels courtesy of a six-speed sequential transmission.

Built from the ground up, the new supercar is now only available in one flavor – the track-focused GTX – but the company said there’ll soon be two more.

In the near future, the British automaker will introduce the GTR, a road-legal, road-focused extension of the GTX, and the GT, which will be more of a Grand Tourer.

David Duerden, MD of Jensen, explained why they opted for this strategy.

“We chose to begin with the track-focused GTX because it is the clearest first expression of the new program. It allows us to prove the engineering [and] design direction behind the car, while giving prospective customers something tangible and fully functional to experience,” he said.

The MSRP wasn’t mentioned, but we know that, back when it was new, the cheapest Interceptor started at £3,700+ in the UK and then $16,900 in the US when it arrived on the other side of the pond a few years later.

It’ll be a lot more expensive than that, we assume.