Jaguar F-Type gets 2.0-litre engine

When the Jaguar F-Type first launched, reactions were almost universally positive – although some remarked it was assertively priced.

Jaguar has obviously taken note, as the arrival of a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has brought the F-Type’s price down by around £2,300 – although it hasn’t suddenly made it cheap, as you’ll still need the guts of £50,000 (before options) if you want one.

The new 2.0-litre engine makes the F-Type 52kg lighter than the rest of the range, and Jaguar’s engineers have felt it necessary to retune the car’s suspension and steering to make the most of this.

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It’ll be interesting to see if the F-Type’s sublime handling becomes even sharper as a result, just as some feel the Mazda MX-5 is more enjoyable to drive with a lightweight 1.5-litre engine than the more powerful 2.0-litre. Jaguar promises the 2.0-litre F-Type will sound good either way, as the company has fettled the exhaust system for acoustic appeal.

Subjective impressions aside, performance and economy are broadly on a par with the V6 supercharged F-Type, which goes from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds and officially returns 33.6mpg. Opting for the four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine sees those figures change to 5.9 seconds and 39.2mpg. For the few F-Type customers who purchase their cars on a company scheme, choosing the smaller engine brings the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) liability down from 36% to 29%.

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Jaguar is rolling out the 2.0-litre F-Type at the same time as a raft of improvements throughout the range. These comprise new safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, as well as redesigned bumpers and LED headlights. Once sales begin this spring, 2.0-litre F-Types can be identified by the singular, central and oblong exhaust pipe.