Cars

The New Jaguar F-Type Four-Cylinder: A Pure Sports Car With Even Greater Agility And Efficiency

April 13, 2017

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New Jaguar F-TYPE gains turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine
A true Jaguar sports car and a true F-TYPE, with its own unique character
New 221kW 2.0-litre is the most powerful four-cylinder ever in a production Jaguar
Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes just 5.7 seconds, maximum speed 249km/h
Fuel consumption reduction of more than 16 per cent compared to the 250kW V6, and with CO2 emissions of just 163g/km
Weight reduction of 52kg and bespoke chassis tuning delivers even greater agility
Maximum torque of 400Nm together with 8-speed Quickshift transmission delivers excellent response throughout the rev range
Intake and exhaust meticulously tuned to deliver renowned F-TYPE sound
Enhanced suite of driver assistance systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Speed Limiter and Lane Keep Assist
New F-TYPE four-cylinder available in South Africa from Q4 2017, pricing to be confirmed closer to launch

Pretoria, 12 April 2017 – Jaguar is broadening the appeal of the new F-TYPE with the introduction of the state-of-the-art four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine. The award-winning F-TYPE family now spans from the entry-level four-cylinder model to Jaguar’s 322km/h all-weather supercar – the F-TYPE SVR.

The pairing of Jaguar’s all-aluminium two-seat sports car with the advanced 221kW 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant delivers Jaguar sports car DNA with enhanced agility and improved efficiency and affordability. This is a true F-TYPE, with its own unique character.

The new model retains the performance expected from the F-TYPE, and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 249km/h. The turbocharged engine’s high maximum torque of 400Nm, generated from just 1,500rpm, together with the eight-speed Quickshift transmission, delivers exceptional response throughout the rev range.

Not only is the 221kW Ingenium engine the most powerful four-cylinder unit ever offered in a production Jaguar, it also generates the highest specific power output of any engine in the F-TYPE range: 110kW per litre. It also makes this the most efficient F-TYPE in the range, with a 16 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the 250kW V6, together with CO2 emissions of just 163g/km on the European combined cycle.

“Introducing our advanced four-cylinder engine to F-TYPE has created a vehicle with its own distinct character,” said Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar F-TYPE. “Performance from an engine of this size is remarkable and is balanced with improved fuel efficiency and affordability, making the F-TYPE experience more accessible than ever before.”

A host of advanced technologies enables the Ingenium engine to deliver this blend of high performance and low fuel consumption. Neatly integrated into the cylinder head is a state-of-the-art electrohydraulic valvetrain featuring patented control algorithms developed in-house. This technology enables fully variable control of intake valve lift for optimum power, torque and efficiency throughout the engine’s operating range.

The exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head casting. Coolant flowing through ducts in the manifold reduces warm-up times and therefore reduces fuel consumption and emissions. The manifold is carefully matched to a twin-scroll turbocharger. The design prevents exhaust gas pulsation interference, ensuring that the turbine wheel responds far more quickly: boost pressure is delivered near-instantaneously, making turbo lag almost non-existent, providing the responsiveness so familiar to the F-TYPE driving experience.

To ensure the best possible launch performance and transient response while still enabling the engine to develop its high peak power output, the turbocharger features ceramic ball bearings. These deliver the lowest possible bearing friction, especially from cold starts.

The 200bar direct injection system features centrally-mounted fuel injectors. Together with optimised spray patterns this technology helps to minimise fuel impingement on the cylinder walls and the piston crowns, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.

Like all members of the Ingenium family, the F-TYPE’s 221kW powerplant was designed and developed in-house. It is manufactured in the UK at Jaguar Land Rover’s £1billion Engine Manufacturing Centre, alongside the 147kW and 184kW four-cylinder petrol engines, and the 110kW, 120kW, 132kW and 177kW four-cylinder diesels.

The Ingenium engine contributes to an overall vehicle weight reduction of 52kg – most of which is over the front axle – and this is key to the four-cylinder F-TYPE’s enhanced agility. Meticulous tuning of the chassis to complement the new engine delivers even greater steering response, body control and ride comfort.

The introduction of the four-cylinder does not mean that drivers lose out on aural feedback or reward: these have always been an essential part of the F-TYPE’s appeal, and have not been compromised. A meticulously-tuned active exhaust is standard on entry-level F-TYPE models, while the R-Dynamic variants feature a switchable active exhaust for an even more involving driving experience.

“Most of the weight reduction is over the front axle, making the car beautifully balanced and really agile to drive – as you’d expect, the car is really at home on beautiful twisty roads,” said Erol Mustafa, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Sports Cars. “Couple that with a four-cylinder exhaust note and this particular F-TYPE has a character all of its own. I like to think of it as the feisty younger brother of the V6 and V8 models.”

The 2018 Model Year Jaguar F-TYPE features visual enhancements to give the sports car an even more powerful presence. Redesigned bumpers, together with full LED headlights enhance the F-TYPE’s award-winning design and provide greater differentiation between each model in the range.

At the rear the four-cylinder model features a unique single tailpipe finisher to distinguish it from the twin central exhausts and quad outboard exhausts of the V6 and V8 models. Lightweight 18-inch wheels also identify the latest addition to the line-up, and help to minimise unsprung mass, contributing to the enhanced ride and handling.

The changes to the F-TYPE’s interior, including lightweight slimline seats, Touch Pro infotainment system and new chrome and aluminium trim finishers, heighten the driver-focused feel. A sleek frameless rearview mirror adds another contemporary touch.

“Retaining the silhouette of F-TYPE across the model range is really important to us whether it’s the 322km/h SVR or the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar. “This is a true Jaguar sports car and a true F-TYPE – we didn’t want to dilute the design DNA. Even so, this car has its own unique character, and the new single tailpipe finisher exemplifies this.”

The new F-TYPE range also offers a wider range of advanced driver assistance systems underpinned by the integration of a highly sophisticated forward-facing stereo camera. These systems help to improve safety and reduce driver workload, and include, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Speed Limiter and Driver Condition Monitor.

The New F-TYPE with Jaguar’s 2.0-litre Ingenium engine will arrive in South Africa during the last quarter of 2017. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.