2018 Jaguar F-Type Gets New Base 4-Cylinder Engine, Cheaper Entry Price

The refreshed 2018 Jaguar F-Type will head to U.S. dealerships later this year with a starting price of $60,895 including destination.

Currently, the 2017 Jaguar F-Type starts from $62,395 but it comes standard with a 3.0-liter V6 engine providing 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. To give buyers more choice, the British automaker has added a new four-cylinder engine variant to the lineup that helps bring the entry-level price down. As a result, there will be a total of 24 derivatives available on the 2018 Jaguar F-Type lineup.

The all-new four-cylinder Ingenium powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The result is a zero-to-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. The four-cylinder mill is paired to an eight-speed Quickshift transmission.

To mark the introduction of the new F-Type range, the British automaker is introducing an exclusive 400 Sport special edition model that will only be available for the 2018 model year. It features a 400-hp version of the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine with 400 lb-ft of torque, upgraded brakes, 20-inch wheels and a unique Satin Dark Grey finish. There’s also the new R-Dynamic trim level that comes with a 380-hp version of the supercharged V6 with 380 lb-ft of torque. The R-Dynamic model is further differentiated by standard 20-inch Dark Grey Diamond Turned alloy wheel designs and by Gloss Black front air intake bezels. The Gloss Black finish can also be seen on the front splitter, hood vents, rear valence and side sills.

Carrying on from the previous model is the F-Type R with a supercharged V8 cranking 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, while at the top of the range is the F-Type SVR pushing 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. There will also be a standard F-Type model with the supercharged V6 providing 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque like the existing model.

Although Jaguar didn’t announce a breakdown of pricing for every specific model, it did say the top of the range starts from $125,995.

2017 New York Auto Show Coverage

Along with all the different powertrain options, the sports car also received a light update to its styling. According to Jaguar, it wanted “to establish a stronger, purer statement for the front-end form of the F-Type, while also providing clearer visual differentiation between the different models.” As a result, the sports car gets full LED headlights, refined bumpers and air intakes with discrete signature features subtly enhancing the front end. The rear LED light clusters have also been subtly updated as well with the characteristic light graphic of a horizontal line interacting a roundel accentuated by darker lenses.

Inside, the F-Type benefits from new lightweight slimline seats that save over 17 pounds compared to their predecessors. The seats come in two forms, Sport and Performance, with the F-Type and F-Type R-Dynamic getting the Sport version. The Performance version features more detailing and more pronounced wings at shoulder height is standard equipment on the 400 Sport, R and SVR models.

The overall weight of the four-cylinder F-Type is 114.6 lbs (52 kg) less compared to the equivalent model powered by the 340-hp supercharged V6 engine, making it the lightest F-Type yet.

Jaguar also showed off the new ReRun app developed in collaboration with GoPro. The app enables real-time video from the GoPro camera to be overlaid with key performance data from the F-Type, including speed, throttle position, gear selection, braking force, g-force and steering wheel angle. The data is displayed using animated gauges.

“Great sports car design is about proportion and purity,” said Ian Callum, director of design, Jaguar. “The most challenging element of the process for designers is to focus on and maintain an exciting silhouette that promises performance. 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.”

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