For 2020, Jaguar’s F-TYPE gets updates in many areas, with the styling changes being the work of Design Director Julian Thomson, who took over the role after Ian Callum’s departure at the end of June this year. As before, the Jaguar DNA is maintained but with an even more muscular, assertive design.
“Design the most beautiful sportscar, with purity, proportion and presence that’s unmistakably Jaguar: that was the challenge we set ourselves. The new F-TYPE is more dramatic than ever, with even greater clarity of purpose in every line, surface and feature, and embodies true Jaguar design DNA,” said Thomson.
“State-of-the-art technologies together with luxurious materials and finishes deliver beauty with purpose in an interior which will delight driver and passenger alike even before the engine starts and the journey begins. Jaguar has been making sportscars for more than 70 years, and that rich heritage has inspired the team to create something truly extraordinary,” he added.
The design has evolved still further with a focus on even greater purity and discipline to the perfectly-sculpted form. Super-slim pixel LED headlights with subtly updated signature ‘Calligraphy’ J daytime running lights, and sweeping direction indicators, blend into the ‘liquid metal’ surfacing of the new clamshell bonnet. The result is an exaggeration of the car’s visual width, accentuating its assertive stance. The new front bumper and subtly enlarged grille also deliver more visual impact and presence.
The rear haunches enhance the F-TYPE’s inherently dramatic, purposeful form, while the new slender rear lights combine an unmistakable LED chicane signature, inspired by the I-PACE all-electric SUV, with subtle monogram pattern detailing and a fine ‘pinstripe’ beneath.
The interior combines traditional Jaguar craftsmanship with rich, contemporary materials such as Windsor Leather and satin-finish Noble Chrome. Beautiful details include monogram stitch patterns in the seats and door trims, Jaguar Leaper motifs in the headrests, and subtle ‘Jaguar Est.1935’ markings on the centre console finisher, glovebox release button surround, and seatbelt guides.
There’s more driver-focused technology, including a reconfigurable, high-definition, 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display, Touch Pro infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and software-over-the-air functionality so future software updates can be made at the customer’s convenience, without having to visit a dealer. Two Meridian sound systems are available to choose from, both offering enhanced sound reproduction.
Even before the drive begins, the F-TYPE delights the driver with the visual theatre of flush, deployable door handles and deployable air vents. Pressing the start button brings the car to life with its hallmark exhaust flare as purposeful as ever. The distinctive crackle and pop on the overrun synonymous with the F-TYPE, remains.
The V6 option with manual transmission is no longer offered in 2020 and the range of powerful, responsive engines will have only 4 and 8-cylinder options, all matched to 8-speed Quickshift transmissions with full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the steering wheel-mounted paddles.
All engines – 300 ps turbocharged 4-cylinder and 450ps or 575 ps V8s – feature active exhaust systems. Customers who choose the supercharged V8s benefit from the new Quiet Start function, which ensures a more subtle, refined sound. The electrically-actuated bypass valves in the rear silencer remain closed until they automatically open up under load. If desired, Quiet Start can be over-ridden by selecting Dynamic Mode or by pressing the switchable exhaust button before starting the engine.
The new 450-ps supercharged V8 has been developed to offer exploitable and rewarding performance, with maximum torque of 580 Nm being generated from just 2500rpm. It is offered with a choice of all-wheel drive and – for purists – rear-wheel drive.
Raising the output of the F-TYPE R supercharged V8 to 575 ps/700 Nm means more exceptional performance is exceptional. All-wheel drive gives all weather stability while retaining inherent tractability and day-to-day usability.
The F-TYPE R’s increased power is matched to a comprehensively uprated chassis with new, wider, 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels in Gloss Black with diamond-turned finish, and new adaptive dampers, springs, anti-roll bars and stiffer rear knuckles and ball joints, delivering even greater agility and responsiveness.
Taking all of the learning accrued from the development of the limited-edition 320 km/h XE SV Project 8, the Quickshift transmissions in both the new F-TYPE R and the 450-ps V8 versions have been carefully recalibrated for a more engaging driving experience. The new F-TYPE R specifically offers even faster, crisper gear changes when the driver chooses gears manually via the steering wheel-mounted paddles or the SportShift gear selector. Both upshifts and downshifts are more immediate and give an even more connected and responsive feel.
Customers also have the choice of the exclusive F-TYPE First Edition. Based on the R-Dynamic models, the First Edition is offered for one model year only. It comes with refinements such as the Exterior Design Pack in contemporary Dorchester Grey and 5-spoke, 20-inch wheels in Gloss Technical Grey with contrast Diamond-Turned finish, complementing the choice of Santorini Black, Eiger Grey or Fuji White paint.
The order books have opened with deliveries to start early next year. In the UK. Prices start at about £54,000 (equivalent to RM293,000) and can go as high as at £97,300 (RM528,000).
