2018 Jaguar F-Type Preview
CARS.COM
Competes with: Audi TT, BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLC300, Porsche Cayman
Looks like: One of the sexiest cats on the road
Drivetrains: 296-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4, 340-, 380- or 400-hp, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, or 550- or 575-hp supercharged V-8; six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic; rear- or all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Late 2017
The hottest kitten on the road just got a little nip and tuck for 2018, with Jaguar unveiling the 2018 F-Type coupe at the 2017 New York International Auto Show this week. In addition to some mild styling updates, the big news for 2018 is the addition of a new, lower-price base model powered by a four-cylinder engine.
More 2017 New York Auto Show Coverage
Exterior
The changes are subtle but meant to help people distinguish the different F-Type models apart from a distance. New full LED headlights are standard, and changes to the bumpers and air inlets are different for each trim of the F-Type now. The rest of the design remains unchanged from the previous (and still gorgeous) original design. New R-Dynamic and limited-edition 400 Sport models also join the range, bringing the count to five: F-Type, F-Type R-Dynamic, F-Type 400 Sport, V8 F-Type R, and V-8 F-Type SVR. The 400 Sport will be a single model year only, and feature special badging and limited paint colors.
Interior
The interior gets some new brightwork and trim, but not much changes design-wise. The big news are new slimline seats made from lightweight cast magnesium alloy and available in either Sport or Performance variants, with the Performance models featuring more aggressive bolstering. Sport is standard on the F-Type and R-Dynamic, while the 400 Sport, R and SVR get the Performance models. The Siena Tan leather color that was previously only available in the SVR is now available across the range. The 400 Sport gets some unique interior trim as well, with yellow accent stitching, embroidered 400 Sport logos in the head restraints, and more badging on the steering wheel and sill plates.
A new in-vehicle camera app called ReRun, developed in conjunction with GoPro, allows drivers to record their drive with a hood-mounted GoPro camera and overlay the video with vehicle performance data gleaned from the car’s systems. The video can then be uploaded to social media via a smartphone interface in the car’s multimedia system, so drivers can share their journey or track experience with friends. The concept is similar to the Performance Data Recorder found in the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, but it relies on the user’s own camera equipment that syncs with the car instead of a camera built into the rearview mirror housing.
For 2018, Jaguar has also made the InControl Touch Pro multimedia system standard across the entire F-Type line-up.
Under the Hood
The most interesting news for 2018 is a new powertrain: The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium engine makes 296 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque. Its output is good enough to zip the F-Type from zero-to-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, according to Jaguar, and tops out at 155 mph. Strangely, it’s only available with an eight-speed automatic transmission — the manual is not available on the four-cylinder, which seems like a missed opportunity.
The other two powertrains — the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 and supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 — remain unchanged, but the Sport 400 special edition gets a slightly more powerful version of the V-6. It’s putting out 400 hp instead of the standard 340 (380 in the R-Dynamic model).
Pricing
The new 2018 F-Type comes with a lower price tag as well, starting at $60,895 including destination fee and ranging up to $125,995 for the top-of-the-line, fire-breathing SVR model. The former is about $1,500 less than the entry-level V-6 model for 2017. Look for it in dealerships sometime later this year.
