Jaguar gives F-Type mid-life refresh

JAGUAR has updated and expanded its range of F-Type sportscars, mildly tweaking styling and interior features including a new ReRun video application, ahead of its arrival on Australian shores near around June this year.

The range has been bolstered by two new variants – the R-Dynamic, which will be a premium variant of the V6 and V6 S, and the limited 400 Sport launch edition, which gets a power boost to its supercharged V6 and will sit underneath the V8-powered R for one model year before it is removed from the line-up – pushing the total number of variants and configurations out to 28.

Based on the V6 S, the 400 Sport is distinguished by yellow and grey badges on the front and rear, and comes with Jaguar’s Sport Design Pack which includes a more prominent front splitter, extended side sills and a rear diffuser finished in Dark Satin Grey.

Under its bonnet, the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 has been given a power boost from 280kW to 294kW (or 400PS, hence the name), while braking power is enhanced with the addition of the Super Performance braking system featuring 380mm front and 376mm rear discs and black brake callipers with 400 Sport logo, housed in 20-inch rims with Dark Grey Satin finish.

The 400 Sport will be offered in both coupe and convertible bodystyles, and comes with the choice of rear- and all-wheel-drive, with power being sent through an eight-speed Quickshift automatic transmission.

400 Sport logos are adorned on the headrests of the seats, flat-bottomed steering wheel, black brushed aluminium centre console finisher and sill treadplates, while gearshift paddles are finished in adonised aluminium.

The permanent addition to the range, the R-Dynamic, will be offered as a premium variant for both the 250kW and 280kW V6 models, and will provide an option for those who want their F-Type to wear a more aggressive look similar to the pricier V8 R.

Pricing is yet to be finalised but Jaguar Australia senior public relations executive James Scrimshaw said that the R-Design would be a good option for people who want the premium F-Type design without sacrificing the extra cash of upgrading to the V8 R.

“A lot of people like what the R looks like, and it gives them a reason – the car can look better, you can enhance the car but you don’t have to take bigger engines and performance to do that,” he said.

“It’s a new entrant, but we’re pretty hopeful it will be popular.”

The current range starts at $119,545 before on-road costs for the entry 250kW V6 Coupe and tops out at $308,185 for the SVR convertible.

The R-Design is distinguished by 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, and gloss black finish to the front air intake surrounds, front splitter, bonnet vents, side sills and rear diffuser.

It will be offered in coupe and convertible styles, and the 250kW version will send power to the rear wheels via either an automatic or manual transmission, while the 280kW S has either transmission for rear-wheel-drive configuration, while the all-paw system comes only with the eight-speed auto.

Range-wide exterior changes include greater differentiation in the front bumper to distinguish models, removing the ‘shark gill’ front air intakes in favour of a single, larger intake, and a slight tweak to the LED lights which allows them to automatically switch between four driving modes – city, country, motorway and bad weather.

Jaguar design director Ian McCallum said the design focus of the F-Type update was to fine-tune the styling rather than change it significantly.

“For the 2018 model year F-Type, we looked at how we could fine-tune key details to deliver even more clarity of purpose in the overall design – for the driver, the passenger and onlookers,” he said.

Inside the cabin, the F-Type receives a revamped infotainment system that features upgraded mechanicals for faster performance, a number of location-based features such as petrol station search, companion apps for Apple and Android smartphones, and customisable homepage, all accessed through an 8.0-inch touchscreen.

Seats have been upgraded to lightweight magnesium alloy slimline versions that come in either Sport of Performance specification and allow for greater legroom and a weight saving of more than 8kg.

Siena tan leather, previously only available on the top-spec SVR, is now available across the range, while satin chrome finish is now on the engine start button and gearshift paddles of all models.

As part of the refresh, Jaguar has partnered with GoPro to create a novel feature for F-Type drivers who own their own GoPro hand-held camera and want to share their driving experiences.

Called ReRun, the app overlays real-time video of the GoPro with key performance data from the car including speed, throttle position, gear selection, braking force, g-force and steering wheel angle, which is then displayed on screen using animated gauges.

With the GoPro footage recorded from the drive, owners can then download and edit videos and share them on social media.

With the exception of the 400 Sport, engine outputs across the F-Type range are unchanged in the update.

In 2016 Jaguar found 186 homes for the F-Type, up 2.3 per cent on its 173 sales in 2015.

It was outsold in 2016 by the Porsche Cayman with 285 sales, but trumped the Cayman’s Boxster twin (172) and Mercedes-Benz’s SL-Class (57).

Full pricing and specification will be announced closer to its release in June.