SMALL-HEARTED JAG
The F-Type can now be had with four-pot power at an even lower price point. Can it suffice?
WHAT’S NEW? When life started out for Jaguar’s F-Type Coupe four years ago, there was a stonking 550hp supercharged V8 to choose from.
But its 10 million baht-plus price was quite a hindrance for some car enthusiasts, which was why the less potent 340hp/380hp V6 managed to provide some sense of relief at under that price level.
The F-Type can now be had with 300hp four-pot power at an even lower price point of 6.999 million baht coupled with some updates like new LED headlights and bucket seats.
The key differentiator for all F-Types is the exhaust system: the V8 has four, V6 two and this four-pot one.
Interestingly, the so-called P300 model of the F-Type goes into direct contention with the identically priced Porsche 718 Cayman, also armed with 300 ponies derived from a turbocharged flat-four (the Jag has a straight-four).
Can the P300 be any better to drive than the 718 Cayman while also justifying its 3 million baht savings over the P340? WHAT’S COOL?
The decision to extend a twin-turbo 2.0-litre engine to the F-Type apparently has done no harm to the car’s performance. It already feels lively from low engine speeds and practically foregoes any conceivable lag around town.
Press harder on an open road and the P300 still feels reasonably quick. Sure, the P340 does have a marginal edge in performance but it doesn’t feel entirely superior.
As the P300 naturally has a lighter engine under the bonnet, it handles quite sweetly with crisp turn-in and near-natural front-rear balance when gliding quickly around corners. The steering itself is nicely weighted.
And since this is an entry-level model, Jaguar has honed the chassis well for real-world driving. The P300 doesn’t have the occasional restless ride of its bigger brothers and actually has better comfort levels than in the Porsche, as well.
Four years on and the F-Type still looks the part on the catwalk by attracting virtually everybody on the kerbside, with partial thanks going to that Ferrari-esque red colour. It appears that another timeless Jaguar design is in the making. WHAT’S NOT?
Aural excitement is always part of sports cars, which is why Jaguar has applied some soundengineering into the P300.
Sadly, though, the tune is just too artificial trying to sound like a “Boxer” engine when it isn’t one. There’s a button to increase the din, but it will never sound any melodic as in the V6 and V8 models. A saving grace for the P300 would be the equally uninspiring sound of the 718 Cayman.
And while the eight-speed torque-converter automatic does a fine job in delivering all the power to the rear wheels, it lacks the slick mechanism of the seven-speed dual-clutch unit in the Porsche.
It’s nice for Jaguar to fit those great bucket seats into the cabin made for just two people, but it’s probably time to up the ante with a steering wheel that not only is better to look at but also to hold onto. BUY OR BYE?
Offering a sports car with a lower price point is always a good thing because it helps boost it reach to potential buyers. And in this particular case, Jaguar fans should be delighted the P300 still offers good driving performance for the real world.
The handling and ride balance has also been sorted out well for this four-pot F-Type putting the driver at more ease than in the 718 Cayman, which counters with a more focused steer for the driving enthusiast. It almost appears that several punters might just fall for the P300’s lower price and the inherent design appeal of the F-Type itself. And when the opportunity arises, it’s fun as well.
After several years on the market, the F-Type is still a nice sports car to be had. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a V6, whose price premium is a bit steep.