Jaguar F-Type gets a smaller four-cylinder engine

Jaguar has taken the wraps off the new entry-level F-Type at the ongoing New York Motor Show. Under the hood of the cheapest F-Type is the new turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder Ingenium engine which makes around 296bhp and a healthy 400Nm.

The new four-pot F-Type has been positioned below the V6 variant instead of replacing it. Its power is down from 335bhp to 295bhp, and the top speed has been reduced to 250kmph compared to the V6, however, Jaguar says the new, smaller F-type is 16 per cent more efficient. The declawed F-Type will go from 0-100kmph in 5.7 seconds and will return a fuel economy of 13.8kmpl and a reduced CO2 emission of 163g/km – both of which will help the baby Jag incur lesser taxation in certain markets. It also gets the eight-speed automatic transmission as a standard which sends power to the rear wheels. There are no manual options. 

Surprisingly, the British carmaker avows that their Ingenium engine is the most powerful four-cylinder unit offered in a production Jaguar, thus generating the highest specific power output of any engine in the F-Type range – 147bhp per litre. The smaller engine also helps the Jag lose up to 52kg over its V6 brethren, weighing just 1,524kg (convertible is 1,545kg). The suspension has been worked up to handle the loss of weight while steering has been improved, asserts the manufacturer. The exhaust has also been tuned to maintain the F-Type’s sonorous note.

Visual update to the four-pot Jag includes a single centre placed exhaust, with 18-inch wheels as standard. The new LED headlamps come as standard, with a revised front bumper. Other updates include a lightweight pair of seats on the inside, improved centre screen with more driving aids like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and traffic sign assist to na¬¬me a few.

Priced at 49,900 GBP, the Ingenium-powered F-Type is the most affordable vehicle in their line-up. And while the F-Type was spawned to be a 911 rival, this downsized variant shoots against the Boxster and Cayman, apart from entry-level Audi TT, and Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class.