News
Gallery 1
If ever there was a car that didn’t need a facelift, it’s the still-glamourous Jaguar F-Type.
Still, if you’re standing still in the rapidly moving automotive business you’re effectively moving backwards, so Jaguar has given its sports car a heavy refresh for 2020.
1
Most obvious are the aesthetic changes. New slimline headlights bring its face into line with others in Jaguar’s range, most notably the XE, while on the range-topped F-Type R the headlights are pixel LEDs with the ability to turn off individual LEDs so as not to dazzle oncoming vehicles.
New taillights now smoothly integrate into the rear and feature a ‘chicane’ graphic introduced on the I-Pace. The biggest changes inside are the adoption of a 12.3-inch customisable TFT screen for the instruments, which can be configured to display navigation or traditional dials.
Powertrains are largely carryover, the range kicking off with the 221kW/400Nm Ingenium four-cylinder turbo which claims 0-100km/h in 5.7sec and a 250km/h top speed. It starts from $126,400 for the Coupe and $145,100 for the Convertible.
1
Next up is the 280kW/460Nm F-Type V6, which is now only available in rear-wheel drive (with a limited slip diff) and automatic, the manual and all-wheel drive variants disappearing from the range. The Coupe is $173,100 and the Convertible $191,800, though a special First Edition is available for the first year of production and adds a black contrast roof, exterior design pack, unique 20-ich wheels, 12-way adjustable performance seats and a choice of three bespoke colours for $205,300.
Finally, the F-Type R flagship has benefited from the greatest number of changes. It has essentially morphed into the SVR, the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 now producing 423kW/700Nm (up from 405kW/680Nm) for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.7sec (which we’d suggest is conservative) and an electronically limited 300km/h top speed.
1
The transmission has been recalibrated using lessons learns from the XE SV Project 8, tyres are 10mm wider at each end (now 265/35 front and 305/30 rear) and there new springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and stiffer rear knuckles for better toe and camber stability. New calibrations for the stability control and steering have also been installed.
In a gift for neighbours of F-Type R owners, there is now a Quiet Start mode to muffle the bark of the blown V8. Now available as a Coupe only, it starts at $263,300. Sadly, arguably the most tantalising new F-Type is off limits to Australia. Overseas markets have access to a new 331kW/580Nm version of the supercharged V8 in all- or rear-wheel drive, but there are no plans to offer it locally.
The new Jaguar F-Type is on-sale now.
