The Jaguar F-Type is a low-volume model from a small company, but there are few vehicles that offer as much variety as this pretty sports car.
Jaguar sells the F-Type as a coupe or soft-top convertible and with engines ranging from a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder to a supercharged 5.0L V8. The starting price is a bit more than $70,000, with MSRPs topping out at around double that. The only other place you'll get this much choice is in the Porsche 911, which is available in an even wider range of configurations, but at prices starting at more than $100,000.
While the Porsche 911 is an obvious competitor, Britain's Aston Martin has the Vantage, powered by a 503-hp V8. Both cars are notably pricier than the F-Type.
At the lower end, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are a good match for the F-Type in terms of performance and price.
New to the 2020 Jaguar F-Type is a Checkered Flag edition, an appearance package that's available on the R-Dynamic trim. New to the list of standard features is a smartphone package that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The other notable change is the elimination of a manual transmission; all F-Type models are now standard with an eight-speed automatic.
F-Type variants start with the P300 and its 2.0L turbo four-cylinder making 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. P340 trades that for a supercharged 3.0L V6 that's good for 340 hp and 332 lb-ft, and R-Dynamic and Checkered Flag versions get a version of that motor tuned for 380 hp and 339 lb-ft. Finally, a supercharged 5.0L V8 makes 550 hp and 502 lb-ft in the R and 575 hp and 516 lb-ft in SVR trim.
P300, P340 and R-Dynamic are rear-drivers; R-Dynamic can be optioned with AWD, which is standard in all other trims.
Standard features include LED headlights, 12-way electric sport seats upholstered in grained leather and suedecloth, navigation, a Meridian stereo, 18-inch wheels and an active sport exhaust.
R-Dynamic adds a gloss black body trim package, aluminum centre console, 20-inch wheels and a switchable sport exhaust system.
Checkered Flag builds on R-Dynamic, adding red seatbelts, special exterior badging, heated steering wheel, red brake calipers, embossed seats, Windsor leather upholstery, black brush aluminum console, and a suedecloth headliner.
R trim adds unique 20-inch wheels, upgraded brakes and performance seats with 12-way electric adjustments.
Finally, SVR trim gains a trim-specific steering wheel, carbon fibre rear spoiler, lightweight titanium exhaust and quilted Windsor leather sport seats.
As of this writing, Jag hadn't published fuel consumption estimates for the F-Type. We expect them to be similar, if not identical, to last year's figures. Those are 10.2/7.8 L/100 km (city/highway) with the 2.0L engine; 11.9/8.5 L/100 km with the 340-hp V6; 12.4/8.8 with the 380-hp V6; and 15.6/10.4 with the V8.
