After countless spy shots and spy videos of the Jaguar F-Type wrapped in newsprint camouflage, Jaguar has finally taken the wraps off its eagerly awaited sports car. As we expected, the new F-Type is a stunner, and it sounds like it has the potential to reestablish Jaguar as a builder of legitimate sports cars.
The 2014 Jaguar F-Type – image: Jaguar
Three models will be offered, starting with the 335 horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 powered base F-Type. Next up the food chain is the F-Type S, which makes 375 horsepower from the same forced-induction 3.0-liter engine. If that’s still not fast enough for you, a supercharged 5.0-liter version, called the F-Type V8 S, will make around 495 horsepower.
The 2014 Jaguar F-Type – image: Jaguar
Base models will run the dash from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 161 mph. Stepping up to the F-Type S lowers the 0-60 mph time to 4.8 seconds, while raising top speed to 171 mph. Finally, the F-Type V8 S delivers a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds, along with a top speed of 186 mph. Both F-Type S variants come with limited-slip differentials, but only the V-6 version’s is mechanical (the V-8 gets an electronic limited slip differential).
The 2014 Jaguar F-Type – image: Jaguar
Jaguar says the interior design was inspired by the cockpit of a fighter jet, so controls are grouped by function and angled towards the driver. Don’t expect Jaguar’s usual gear selector knob in the F-Type; instead the eight-speed automatic transmission can be shifted via a console-mounted shifter or steering-wheel-mounted paddles. Sadly, a manual gearbox is not offered in any version.
The 2014 Jaguar F-Type – image: Jaguar
Look for sales to begin next summer, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.
