Watch: Midlands-powered Jaguar completes huge loop-the-loop

With expert stunt driver Terry Grant at the wheel and a four-cylinder Ingenium diesel under the bonnet, the new F-Pace – dubbed Jaguar's "first family sports car" – won the Guinness World Record's title for the largest ever loop at the Niederrad Racecourse in Germany, the day before the car is officially unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show.

Although the range includes more powerful six cylinder diesel and petrol versions, Jaguar chose the rear wheel drive 180PS diesel model for the stunt, as it is the lightest.The Ingenium diesel engines are made at the company's engine manufacturing centre on the i54 site beside the M54 motorway. The factory will start making petrol engines next year as the workforce builds towards a total of 1,400.

Plans have also been laid to almost double the size of the factory over the next two years. Driver Mr Grant undertook two months of intense physical and dietary training to ensure his body was prepared for the 6.5 Gs involved in the stunt – greater than the forces experienced by space shuttle pilots – as the car powered around the 63ft (19.08-metre) loop.

In order to complete the record-breaking challenge, precise physics, angles, speeds and dimensions had to be considered by a team of experts. Mr Grant said:

"Driving the world's largest loop was a very proud moment in my career. I am delighted to bring the Guinness World Records title back to the UK and help Jaguar run rings around their competitors ahead of the motor show tomorrow."

The stunt marked the opening of order books for the car, assembled at Solihull, which goes on sale next spring with prices starting at £34,170.

Ian Callum, director of design for Jaguar, added: "The Jaguar F-Pace is an SUV with the soul of a sports car."