In a bid to show that eager motorists put too much focus on cylinder count instead of torque, horsepower and weight, Jaguar has chosen to take its F-Type sports coupé and reject the typical V8 or V6 in favor of a four-cylinder engine.
No need to worry, it’s not simply any old four-pot. It is among Jaguar’s brand-new hyper-efficient 2-liter Ingenium turbocharged units and for that reason is capable of dishing out 300PS (296bhp). Include that the smaller block and some other changes have reduced 52kg off the automobile’s weight and that small engine benefits a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds (exactly the same as the V6 F-Type) and on to a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
Yet the vehicle’s fuel economy is a 16% enhancement over the 340PS V6 design and discharges 163g of CO2 per km.
“The 300PS Ingenium petrol engine is engineered to provide an engaging mix of performance, refinement and efficiency,” stated Ron Lee, Engineering Director of Powertrain, Jaguar Land Rover. “Not only is this the most powerful four-cylinder ever used in a production Jaguar, it also establishes the highest specific power and torque rankings of any engine in the F-Type range. It’s naturally suitable for a Jaguar sports car.”
The lighter engine has also altered the vehicle’s handling attributes, turning it into a vehicle that yearns for nation backroads as much as long highway straights.
“The majority of the weight decrease is over the front axle, making the vehicle perfectly balanced and truly agile to drive – as you ‘d expect, the vehicle is truly at home on gorgeous twisty roads,” stated Erol Mustafa, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Sports Cars. “This particular F-Type has a character all of its own. I want to think about it as the fiesty small brother of the V6 and V8 models.”
And while the automaker has cut down on cylinders, it’s been generous with active safety and creature comforts. The car features a Touch Pro infotainment system, autonomous emergency braking and lane departure caution; other choices consist of lane keep help, traffic indication recognition and even a motorist condition monitor.
The F-Type 300PS 2-litre will cost from ₤ 50,000 ($62,775) when it goes on sale later on this year.