Jaguar’s F-Type lacks the same growl as its German-made competitors
The F-Type coupe/convertible now comes with a four-cylinder turbo engine to further lower its price point against Porsche’s Cayman and Boxster.
Hey, it’s only got a single exhaust pipe … That’s right, mate. The Jaguar F-Type coupe you see here in official pictures is the new entry-level model powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol-turbo engine. This new motor is also available in the convertible version.
For the sake of differentiation, this particular F-Type gets a single exhaust pipe mounted centrally behind, where you can also find a new diffuser design. The 3.0 V6 models get two tailpipes, while the 5.0 V8 receives four.
And since the F-Type is now three years old in its current generation, Jaguar has given it new mag wheels and a slightly massaged front end with new LED lights and bumper.
What’s the power like?
Jaguar has taken its new Ingenium four-pot engine from other models and tuned it to 300hp — 50-100hp more than in other applications. Maximum torque is rated at 400Nm attained at 1,500rpm. Drive in this F-Type goes via eight-speed automatic to just the rear wheels.
Jaguar claims a 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds — 0.4 seconds slower than the F-Type fitted with a 340hp 3.0-litre supercharged V6. But the four-potter is said to be 16% more fuel-efficient while spewing out 163g/km of CO2: the V6 emits 199g/km.
Although the acceleration time may by slightly slower, the four-pot F-Type may have a chance of being more agile to drive because Jaguar says it’s 52kg lighter than the V6. But what also remains to be seen is whether the engine noise will be as tuneful as the V6’s.
How does it fare against the Cayman?
The Porsche Cayman comes with a 300hp 2.0-litre flat-four turbo-petrol engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and a quicker 4.9-second (4.7 with launch control) acceleration time.
But the Cayman costs 1 million baht more than the 7.99 million baht F-Type V6. This means that the F-Type in 300hp suit should be priced even lower than that level when sales start later this year, though punters must be content with the inferior on- paper performance figures that the front- engined Jag concedes to the mid-engined Porsche.