Revamped Jaguar F-Type gets price hikes up to $44k

JAGUAR Australia has rounded out its F-Type range by adding a six-speed manual gearbox option to entry and mid-range variants, along with an all-wheel drive alternative on top-end variants as part of a 2015 revamp that includes improvements such as electric power steering, sport exhaust and more equipment.

However, the 2015 range also brings some steep price increases, with the 2015 V8 F-Type Convertible up more than $44,000 over the previous version in return for an extra 40kW of power and a bunch of other equipment additions and improvements.

The expanded range effectively doubles the F-Type range to 12, with four choices in each of F-Type, F-Type S and F-Type R across both coupe and convertible ranges.

Entry level 250kW/450Nm coupes get the option of the new manual gearbox, with the base F-Type manual increasing the price of entry to the range by $40, to $119,470 before on-road costs.

The previous entry-level variant, the F-Type automatic, jumps $5040, to $124,470.

The F-Type Convertible manual, with the 3.0-litre supercharged V6, costs $138,170, while the same car with the eight-speed automatic transmission now costs $143,170 – an increase of $4995.

While prices have risen, all F-Types now have the shouty Switchable Active Sport Exhaust, reversing camera and front parking sensors as standard equipment instead of as a cost option.

Electric-assisted power steering also replaces less efficient mechanical steering for all variants, cutting emissions by up to four grams per kilometre and increasing steering precision, says Jaguar.

Middle-of-the-range F-Type S coupe – with its extra 30kW of power and 10Nm of torque over the base F-Type – now starts at $151,770 for the new manual-equipped version.

No convertible version is offered.

As before, the S is available as an automatic in both coupe and convertible body styles, but investing $172,470 opens up the new 4WD range, starting with the F-Type S AWD in the Coupe body.

Above that sits the top-of-the-range F-Type R powered by Jaguar's mighty supercharged 5.0-litre V8, pumping out 404kW of power and a hearty 680Nm of torque.

Previously, only Coupes got the full-fat power output, with Convertibles getting a lesser 364kW and 625Nm, but for the 2015 range both variants share the topmost tarmac-tearing torque.

Stepping up to the R badge also brings a whole host of extra equipment to align with the kit previously only found in the R Coupe, including an electrically controlled differential, bigger brakes, uprated suspension and a raft of interior features.

V8 versions are not offered with the new manual gearbox, with only the eight-speed Quickshift automatic transmission capable of handling the beefy output. The new 4WD option helps to get the power to the road.

The 2015 F-Type R Coupe price has risen $7840, to $226,970, while the Convertible is no longer called the V8 S, instead taking on the same R branding as sibling.

The name change, extra equipment and 40kW power boost for the V8 F-Type Convertible results in a sizable $44,195 price rise, to $245,670.

Customers wanting four-wheel traction combined with wind-in-the-hair motoring will have to stump up the $261,370 for the flagship F-Type R Convertible AWD auto, which is also available as a $242,670 coupe.

The addition of a new all-paw transmission has enhanced the V8 F-Type's acceleration despite the extra mass, cutting 0.1 seconds from the zero-to-100km/h dash, at 4.1 seconds.

The new manual gearbox was developed by JLR in conjunction with ratio authority ZF, and is the first self serve to find its way into a Jag since the S-Type.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia senior public affairs executive James Scrimshaw said the introduction of AWD and manual options would broaden the appeal of the F-Type and allow it to compete in new markets.

“If you have a look at the market where F-Type competes, 12 per cent of that market is all-wheel drive already,” he said. “That's something we haven't been able to participate in, and six percent of the market is manual so once again, we haven't been able to compete.

“There's 18 per cent of the market we haven't been able to touch, so having that available in our range, someone can stay with Jaguar and get exactly what they want, where before they may have been looking for something slightly different and gone elsewhere.”

The Tata-owned British brand says the new all-wheel-drive system preserves the rear-drive feel of the F-Type by sending 100 per cent of torque to the back end until the limits of two-wheel drive are reached, at which point a portion of power is redirected to the front axle.

New Torque Vectoring by Braking also manages power and braking under enthusiastic driving conditions and is another feature standard to all variants for the new refreshed line-up.

Aesthetically, all AWD F-Types are identified by a larger bonnet bulge and additional vents to accommodate the extra front end hardware, while all F-Type variants have a greater choice of interior and exterior trim options.

The new range goes on sale in April this year, except for the new manual variants that start arriving in July.

Jaguar F-Type pricing*

Coupe	$119,470
Coupe (a)	$124,470
Convertible	$138,170
Convertible (a)	$143,170
S Coupe	$151,770
S Coupe (a)	$156,770
S Coupe AWD (a)	$172,470
S Convertible (a)	$175,470
R Coupe (a)	$226,970
R Coupe AWD (a)	$242,670
R Convertible (a)	$245,670
R Convertible AWD (a)	$261,370

*Excludes on-road costs.