Four-cylinder Jaguar F-Type revealed with 296bhp

Four-cylinder engine is the smallest yet offered in the F-Type; new entry-level car to be priced from £49,900
Jimi Beckwith
12 April 2017

A four-cylinder Jaguar F-Type has been revealed at the New York motor show as the new entry-level model in the F-Type line-up. It will go on sale from £49,900 with first deliveries slated for the summer.

With a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 296bhp and 295 lb ft, the new model is 39bhp down on the rear-wheel-drive F-Type V6 but is capable of reaching 60mph from rest in 5.4sec and hitting a top speed of 155mph. That matches the V6 on 0-60mph time but is 7mph down on that model's maximum speed. 

The new Ingenium engine is the most powerful four-cylinder unit Jaguar has ever offered and gives the entry-level F-Type the highest specific output of any model in the line-up, at 148bhp per litre. 

Jaguar says the four-cylinder F-Type offers combined economy of 39.2mpg, which represents a 16% improvement over the V6 F-Type, in part thanks to a weight reduction of 52kg. The four-cylinder model has a kerb weight of 1525kg in coupé form and 1545kg as a convertible. 

Most of the weight saving comes from over the front axles, and Jaguar says this also improves the car’s weight distribution, shifting 1% of the car’s mass towards the rear; the car now has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, according to Jaguar. The suspension has also been tweaked all round to suit the reduced weight, as has the power steering.

This can give the car agility above other models in certain areas, said Erol Mustafa, Jaguar's chief engineer for sports cars. Talking about the differences in the line-up, Mustafa said for example, the new model could respond quicker at lower speeds in tight twisting roads than the SVR, but that the SVR would naturally outperform the entry-level car in other ways.

Our Verdict

Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar F-type coupe

The Jaguar F-Type has given the big cat back its roar, but can the 2017 updates keep at bay its closest rivals including the masterful Porsche 911?

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week

The new model will only be available only with Jaguar’s eight-speed automatic gearbox, which has been tweaked specifically for use in the 1997cc twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and only in rear-wheel-drive form. The turbocharger itself also features ceramic ball bearings to reduce friction.

Jaguar also claims to have solved the problem of the four-cylinder engine’s comparative deficit in engine note compared with the V6 and V8. An active exhaust is standard on the four-cylinder model, and this can be further tweaked with a switchable active exhaust on the R-Dynamic trim cars.

Along with the rest of the updated F-Type range, Jaguar’s new 2.0-litre F-Type gets autonomous emergency braking as standard, along with lane departure warning. Jaguar chose the New York motor show it "Launching the car at New York fitted with our programme timing and also the US market is significant for F-Type, it's the second largest after the U.K," according to Mustafa.

The F-Type is the latest Jaguar model to receive another variant of the Ingenium engine. The F-Pace, XF and XE were all updated for the new model year with two new 197bhp and 247bhp petrol and a 237bhp Ingenium engines.

There’s also a 3.0-litre straight six Ingenium engine on its way, to replace the V6 engines in Jaguar’s line-up in the long term, as well as a 1.5-litre three-cylinder in the pipeline. 

When asked whether he would consider diesel or hybrid applications for the F-Type, Mustafa declined to comment but said it is always looking at ways of improving the car, and that it would not rule out hybrid performance in the future. However, he added that in terms of reaching emissions targets, there was no pressure on him. "Our focus always has to be driver enjoyment."

Read more: 

Jaguar F-Type SVR 2017 review

Jaguar F-Type GT4 racing car under development

New Jaguar F-Type 400 Sport heads raft of revisions to British sports car

2017 Jaguar F-Type 2.0-litre diesel spotted testing

Jaguar I-Pace: first drive of electric SUV concept

Join the debate

Comments
37

TStag

12 April 2017
Hmmm I'd really like to see Jaguar make a cheaper sports cars to take on the Boxter. This seems pricey for a 4 cylinder car.

A34

12 April 2017
But this is a bit of a Lardster instead of a Cayman / Boxter alternative. Would be a good £35K car I'm sure...

xxxx

12 April 2017
Quite a small gap in percentage terms between the V6 and 4 pot. With the Cayman coming in at £43,000, Boxster £45,000, £46,000 might make the choice harder.

Cobnapint

12 April 2017
If this 4 pot can match the 0-60 time (That's if you believe Jags figures of course).

James Dene

12 April 2017
A straight six would deliver a 'proper' F-Type; a straight four does not, it is the engine you'd expect in a hot hatchback - unless it's an Audi, which only underlines my point. Sadly JLR cannot look at a badge without devaluing it.

atlasapl

12 April 2017
@James Dene

So its ok for Porsche to put a 4 pot in the Cayman/Boxter, but not for Jag to put one in the F-Type?

atlasapl

12 April 2017
@James Dene

So its ok for Porsche to put a 4 pot in the Cayman/Boxter, but not for Jag to put one in the F-Type?

James Dene

12 April 2017
atlasapl And Porsche has been much criticized for that decision, as it was with the 924 and 944, with the 924 always regarded as not a proper Porsche because it had a 'van' engine under the bonnet. Today, JLR has put a blown SUV engine under the bonnet of its sports car. And before I go, the Cayman/Boxster engine is a flat four not found in a VAG SUV or anything else.

rhwilton

12 April 2017
James Dene wrote:

atlasapl And Porsche has been much criticized for that decision, as it was with the 924 and 944, with the 924 always regarded as not a proper Porsche because it had a 'van' engine under the bonnet. Today, JLR has put a blown SUV engine under the bonnet of its sports car. And before I go, the Cayman/Boxster engine is a flat four not found in a VAG SUV or anything else.

Well to be fair, the Ingenium engine was seen first in the XE and introduced into other cars including SUV's afterwards.

GODFATHER

12 April 2017
James Dene wrote:

atlasapl And Porsche has been much criticized for that decision, as it was with the 924 and 944, with the 924 always regarded as not a proper Porsche because it had a 'van' engine under the bonnet. Today, JLR has put a blown SUV engine under the bonnet of its sports car. And before I go, the Cayman/Boxster engine is a flat four not found in a VAG SUV or anything else.

Merc uses the GT engine in all their larger AMG models along with the other Germans who do the same with their range. What your saying is that considering more then half of Porsches sales are based on Volkwagen products they are essentially glorified VWs seeing as they start life as VW products.

Pages

Add your comment

Log in or register to post comments

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week