HOW much are two cylinders worth, and what do they weigh, in today’s sportscar market? According to Jaguar, the answer is almost $10,000 and 26kg per pot respectively.

The model year F-Type range now scores a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder entry engine that asks $19,200 less, and weighs 52kg less overall, than the carry-over 3.0-litre supercharged V6 version that has been a mainstay of the coupe and convertible line-up since it launched locally in 2014.

Jaguar has touted this new turbo-four as delivering the lightest, daintiest and most agile F-Type ever, one that trades away the brute performance of higher model grades for a stripped-back driving experience. Words such a ‘feisty and ‘pure’ are bandied around for this latest British two door.

Certainly such words are typically used to describe a Porsche Boxster and Cayman that have also recently switched to an explosive, epically quick turbo-four format. The question is whether the larger Jaguar F-Type now has enough energy to become more than a shadow of Boxster...