Jaguar sharpens claws with $139K F-Type

JAGUAR Australia has announced a Boxster-baiting starting price of $139,000 (plus on-road costs) for its new F-Type two-seater soft-top.

Three variants will be offered – local deliveries commence around August – each with serious claws courtesy of a trio of supercharged V6 or V8 petrol powertrains.

As such, Jaguar calls the F-Type its “first full-blooded sportscar in 50 years”, with sharper edges and more driver focus that the larger (and $74,000 more expensive) XK boulevard cruiser.

The starting price is also lower than expected, with the company seemingly capitalising on the favourable exchange rate Australia has with the UK – Jaguar’s manufacturing base.

Entry $139K versions are powered by a 250kW/450Nm supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, with a zero to 100km/h time of 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h.

This compares to 232kW and 360Nm for the new Porsche Boxster S – seemingly it closest rival – which last week scored a $6800 price cut, bringing the German’s starting cost down to $126,500.

Commanding a $32,400 premium over the base variant is the F-Type S ($171,400), which is powered by a more potent version of the same engine producing 280kW/460Nm, enough to do the 0-100km/h dash in 4.9s.

A further $30,900 obtains the flagship 364kW/625Nm supercharged V8 S ($202,300) which, with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.3s and a top speed of 300km/h, has genuine supercar pace.

It’s also $26,600 cheaper than the entry level version of Porsche’s flagship 911 Carrera cabriolet range.

All variants get free scheduled servicing for the first three years or 100,00km – whichever comes first.

Each engine comes with idle-stop, and claimed combined fuel consumption figures of 9.0 litres per 100km, 9.1L/100km and 11.1L/km.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ‘quickshift’ automatic transmission with manual override via the centre console selector or steering wheel paddles. No manual gearbox is offered.

Being a Jaguar Land Rover product, the F-Type’s architecture is largely comprised of aluminium – JLR is an industry leader in the deployment of this lightweight material.

However, with a kerb weight of 1597kg in its lightest guise, the F-Type is still almost 300kg heavier than the Boxster, and nearly 150kg heavier than the larger 911 cabrio.

At 4470mm long, 1308mm high and 2042mm wide (with mirrors), the F-Type is about mid-way between a Boxster and 911, and is 504mm shorter than its Jag XK cousin, although with boot space of almost 200L, it is similarly practical for cargo.

Standard features in the base variant include centre-mounted twin pipes, suede and leather sports seats, aluminium cabin trim and 18-inch alloy wheels. The mid-range V6 S gets 19-inch rims, while the V8 flagship rolls on 20-inch wheels.

Variants packing the high-output V6 and V8 engines are badged S and get limited-slip differentials, selectable driving modes affecting throttle, transmission, steering and suspension, plus a lap timer and G-force meter.

S variants are also get an active exhaust system with bypass valves that open under heavy throttle inputs or can be held open through an option in the drive mode selector to deliver what Jaguar has called an “an authentic, rich sound, developing to a howling crescendo”.

In addition, Jaguar has acoustically tuned the F-Type’s rear to enable more exhaust noise to enter the cabin and the engine’s intake note is also piped into the cabin from under the bonnet, which it says “is particularly exciting when combined with the scream of the supercharger”.

Jaguar has applied its biggest production brakes to the V8 F-Type, with 380mm front rotors backed up by 376mm discs at the rear, cooled by large gills in the front bumper and air channelled around aerodynamically-shaped suspension components.