Jaguar goes four-pot with 2018 F-Type

JAGUAR has confirmed that its F-Type will get a new four-cylinder entry-level variant to go up against the likes of Porsche’s Cayman and Boxster twins and Audi’s TTS.

Armed with the most powerful 221kW/400Nm version of Jaguar Land Rover’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium turbo petrol engine, the four-pot F-Type coupe will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year for $107,300 plus on-road costs – $12,245 cheaper than the most affordable V6 F-Type.

This also places it below the cheapest Cayman, the $115,600 2.7, but above the $100,855 Audi TTS Quattro Coupe.

A convertible version will follow, as will enhanced R-Dynamic versions of both the coupe and convertible, although pricing and launch details for these are still to be confirmed by Jaguar Land Rover Australia.

More than 50 kilograms lighter than the V6 F-Type at 1525kg, the four-cylinder coupe is being billed as the most agile of the F-Type range, as well as the most efficient, with fuel consumption cut by 16 per cent over its heavier brethren, to 7.2 litre per 100km.

Jaguar’s vehicle line director for F-Type, Ian Hoban, said that introducing the four-cylinder engine to F-Type had created a vehicle with its own distinct character.

“Performance from an engine of this size is remarkable and is balanced with improved fuel efficiency and affordability, making the F-Type experience more accessible than ever before,” he said.

The new variant is said to capable of the 0-100kmh dash in 5.7 seconds – well short of the supercharged V8 F-Type SVR’s 3.7 seconds – but only 0.4 seconds slower than the base V6 which produces 250kW and 450Nm. It is also marginally slower than the base Cayman (5.4 seconds) with its bigger 2.7-litre engine and the Boxster with its 2.0-litre turbo four that develops the exact same 221kW as the F-Type.

Top speed of the four-cylinder F-Type is a claimed 247km/h, about 20km/h slower than the Porsche rivals.

Jaguar says the latest Ingenium engine with its twin-scroll turbocharger and electro-hydraulic valve train has the highest specific output of any F-Type engine at 110kW per litre.

It reaches peak power of 221kW at 5500rpm, while peak torque kicks in at 1500rpm.

It is the most powerful of the three Ingenium petrol engines now on offer across the Jaguar and Land Rover ranges, with the others producing 147kW and 184kW.

In F-Type, the new engine will come only with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission – no manual has been mentioned.

However, gear ratios have been tweaked to suit the four-cylinder engine’s characteristics, as have the double-wishbone suspension settings, electric-assisted steering and the exhaust which will finish in a single pipe, rather than the twin arrangement of the bigger-engine F-Types. R-Dynamic variants will get an active switchable exhaust for aural pleasure.

The four-cylinder cars will ride on 18-inch wheels shod with 245/45/R18 tyres at the front axle and 275/40/R18 tyres at the rear. These wheels are smaller than other F-Types, but have the advantage of lower unsprung weight.

Customers can order 19- and 20-inch wheels from the options list, or go for the R-Dynamic versions which have 19-inch wheels as standard with 245/40/R19 and 275/35/R19 tyres front and rear respectively.

Brake discs on the front are 355mm with a twin piston calliper, while the back discs are 325mm with single piston callipers.

Apart from the obvious mechanical changes, the Model Year 2018 F-Type will get some cosmetic surgery, including redesigned bumpers and full LED headlights.

Inside, the F-Type gets new slimline seats, updated infotainment systems and metallic trim.

Stereo forward-facing cameras now deliver autonomous emergency braking as a standard feature across the F-Type range, along with lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist.