Four Sure: 2018 Jaguar F-type Adds Turbo Four-Cylinder Base Model

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Whenever we drive a Jaguar F-type, the British two-seater provokes a visceral reaction. We swoon over the exterior, chuckle at the crackling exhaust, and get a rush from the driving experience. But for 2018, Jaguar is putting a four-cylinder engine into its sports car, and that may muddle some of those warm feelings.

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In the F-type, Jaguar has tweaked its Ingenium 2.0-liter turbo four to make 296 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 1500 rpm. That’s 56 horses and 44 lb-ft more than what this four-banger turns out in the XE and XF sedans (with peak torque arriving 250 rpm sooner). That’s also startlingly near the base 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, which makes 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. Paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the F-type four-cylinder hits a factory-estimated zero-to-60-mph time of 5.4 seconds, a tenth quicker than the manual six-cylinder.

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Although the aluminum-bodied F-type is heftier than it appears, the four-cylinder version trims a claimed 114 pounds compared with the base V-6 automatic. The coupe’s factory-stated 3360-pound curb weight lets Jaguar reduce front spring rates by 4 percent and the rears by 3 percent. Weight distribution shifts rearward by one percentage point, to 47/53. Brake-actuated torque vectoring, formerly reserved for all-wheel-drive S and R models, is included as well. From the outside, a single trapezoidal exhaust is this engine’s only giveaway.

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The 2018 F-type four-cylinder slashes a further $ 1410 off the base coupe ($ 60,985) and $ 2400 off the base convertible ($ 63,995). LED headlights and Jaguar’s quick-reacting but very buggy InControl Touch Pro infotainment system are now standard, and the base cars lose the 12-speaker Meridian stereo and instead make do with a less powerful 10-speaker unit.

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Elsewhere, prices rise. What used to be called the F-type Premium—the 340-hp version of the coupe equipped with the panoramic glass roof, 14-way power seats, and other extras—is now $ 1200 more than a comparable 2017 model. Those models range from $ 68,995 for a manual coupe to $ 73,395 for an automatic convertible. The 380-hp S loses its name, along with the red and green badge and the manual transmission. With the now standard automatic, it’s $ 700 less, while the all-wheel-drive version is $ 3700 less than before; that car now costs $ 83,895 to start.

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You’ll need to order the new R-Dynamic model to pair the manual with the uprated V-6. The R-Dynamic also brings 20-inch gray wheels, body-color moldings, and gloss-black trim. It’s priced from $ 82,195 for a rear-wheel-drive manual coupe to $ 89,595 for an all-wheel-drive automatic convertible.

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We’ve previously detailed the one-year-only 400 Sport. It is priced ranging from $ 90,495 for a rear-drive coupe to $ 96,595 for the AWD convertible, both exclusively with the automatic and a 400-hp V-6. The 550-hp R and the 575-hp SVR see prices cut between $ 3800 and $ 5250. The SVR’s Siena Tan leather and carbon-fiber interior trim are now optional across the F-type range, while new air inlets on the front fascia and darker taillights fuss with an otherwise flawless design.

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Instrumented Test: 2016 Jaguar F-type R Convertible AWD

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It’s British, Innit? Jaguar’s Super-Limited F-type British Design Edition

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Jaguar F-type R Full Coverage: Tests, Reviews, Specs, Pricing, and More

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We’ll reserve judgment on the four-cylinder F-type until we push the start button, at which point we may react as we do when we drive the V-6 and V-8 models. As the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster have proved, a high-output turbocharged four can make for an exciting sports car. We hope that’s what Jaguar has created here, rather than just a less expensive one.

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