Suspended over the River Thames on wires just over an inch thick , this daring stunt involving the new Jaguar XF looks like something out of a James Bond film . The dramatic pictures of the Jaguar rehearsing crossing the Thames will give car enthusiasts some much-needed excitement in the absence of Top Gear . With the iconic skyline of Canary Wharf in the backdrop , the Jaguar was pictured yesterday rehearsing for the world 's first high-wire water crossing to demonstrate the car 's 'lightweight and agile credentials ' . With British stuntman Jim Dowdall , who has appeared in Bond , the Bourne film series and Indiana Jones at the wheel , the sports car was spotted practising traversing across the two 34mm-diameter wires . Tonight he will perform the feat in full - and it will be broadcast live on Jaguar 's website at 7pm . With the Canary Wharf skyline in the background , the Jaguar XF rehearses crossing the Thames on wires just over an inch thick . Driven by British stuntman Jim Dowdall , the car makes its way along the wires in what will be the world 's first high-wire water crossing . With the Citi bank , Barclays and HSBC headquarters in the backdrop , the Jaguar XF plots its precarious course along the wires . On a gloomy day in the capital , the brand new Jaguar XF practiced travelling across the Thames balanced on just two 4cm-diameter wires . Ian Callum , Director of Design , Jaguar , said : ' I believe the all-new XF will be the best looking car in its class . 'Elegant , handsome and with proportions that imbue a great sense of integrity - the all-new XF will be true to the strong tradition of sporting Jaguar saloons while being completely of its time . ' Jaguar 's original XF range was first launched in 2007 and is the biggest selling and most awarded car in its current product range . Tonight 's stunt in the capital 's financial district comes a week ahead of its public motor show debut in New York - and enthusiasts can watch it live from 7pm at www.jaguar.co.uk/newxf . Tonight 's daring stunt involving the luxury sports car comes a week ahead of its public motor show debut in New York . Jaguar 's original XF range was first launched in 2007 and is the biggest selling and most awarded car in its current product range . The car is suspended on steel wire ropes as it rehearsed the heart-stopping stunt across the River Thames yesterday . Last week , Jaguar Land Rover laid the foundations for a new £150million automotive technology and innovation centre at Warwick University which is to open in 2017 and employ 1,000 people . The 33,000 sq m facility will become the hub for Jaguar Land Rover 's advanced research with cutting-edge workshops , laboratories , virtual engineering suites and advanced engine facilities . It will also 'focus on inspiring the next generation of engineers – from schoolchildren to undergraduates . ' Jaguar Land Rover already employs more than 8,000 engineers and designers in the UK and in 2015/16 the business will invest up to £3.8billion in product creation . The new centre will complement Jaguar Land Rover 's existing product research and development centres in Gaydon and Whitley . Jaguar Land Rover has invested more than £10billion in the last five years and currently employs 34,000 people in total . Last year Jaguar land Rover sold 462,678 vehicles – up nine per cent increase on 2013 . Its turnover has almost trebled to £19.4 billion in its financial year ending March 31 2014 , with a pre-tax profit of £2.5 billion .
The Jaguar was pictured rehearsing crossing the Thames on wires just over an inch thick for launch of new model . Incredible pictures show British stuntman Jim Dowdall practising driving the car across two 34mm-diameter wires . Tonight he will perform feat in full - and it will be broadcast live on Jaguar 's website Last year before its official launch .