New Jaguar F-Type Keeps up the Pace

Behold… the new 2020 Jaguar F-Type!

It’s a never-ending battle at the top; rest on your laurels and a rival will ease away with the plaudits and possibly the sales. Jaguar seems to be on the ball these days, and the new F-Type sports car for 2020 is rightly taking all the plaudits at the moment.

The 2-door F-Type 2-seater has been with us now since 2013, and sits on a shortened XK platform. The 2021 model year version has been given a gentle shake-up and refresh with notably a redesigned front end.

It’s a more assertive look. According the British manufacturer, a look and design that brings the F-Type up-to-date and in line with the likes of the company’s modern crossover SUV, the I-Pace. It’s not just visually that the F-Type strikes a pose though; the 2021MY version sports a choice of two supercharged V8 engines, either a 5-litre 567bhp version (the R model) or a new V8 standard 444bhp option. There is also a turbocharged 4-cylinder 2-litre option, but the supercharged V6 engine is no longer an option, following a review into what buyers wanted and actually preferred to buy.

Previous reviews sometimes seemed to prefer the look of the F-Type from the rear rather than the front and it seems that Jaguar has taken note and brought the front up to spec. I must admit, I saw no problem with the look of the old F-Type from the front, but there you go – design beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The new front visuals are certainly more aggressive and dare I say it, a bit ‘American muscle car’.

That 444bhp engine will get you from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 177mph, while the R version will get you up to speed in just 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 186mph. The 2-litre offers a more sedate 5.4 seconds. The V8 engines all give us Project-8, 4-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive Quick Shift. The R version leaves out the RWD option while the 2-litre offers RWD only.

For year one, the F-Type will be available with either 444bhp or 296bhp First Edition options based on R-Dynamic levels plus First Edition branding and some limited edition colour options.

The Jaguar active exhaust sits under all the F-Types, while the V8s get the addition of switching to Quiet Mode for obvious reasons. Regarding the exterior tweaks, Jaguar’s exterior design head commented: “Everyone is shouting louder these days… We don’t want to be brash, but we don’t want to shrink from the opposition either.”

Inside, seatbelts feature heritage-boosting ‘Jaguar est 1935’ wording on the seatbelt guides and the glovebox. Seating-wise, there will be two options: standard Sport, plus Performance. R and First Edition versions will get Performance seats as standard.

Prices will start at £54,060 for the standard coupé or £59,560 for the convertible. RWD V8 44bhp coupé version will be £69,990 and the AWD version of that model will be £74,990. You can order now at your Jaguar dealer with initial deliveries due in the first part of 2020.