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Jaguar F-Type gets redesign for 2021 model

Even car lines get a nip and tuck sometimes as they get a little older. That's true for the Jaguar F-Type coupe, which gets a face lift and some tech upgrades for its 2021 iteration. The two-seater sports car in its F-TYPE R version will do 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 sec thanks to its supercharged V8, and it will look sleek and refined every inch of the way.

The new F-Type will be offered with four-, six-, and eight-cylinder options, all matched to eight-speed Quickshift transmissions with full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

Inside, it will feature more driver-focused technology, including a reconfigurable, high-definition, 12.3-in. TFT instrument cluster, Touch Pro infotainment system, and Smartphone Pack with Apple CarPlay as standard. Smartphone Pack also includes Android Auto and Baidu CarLife, depending on market applicability, as standard. Software-over-the-air functionality means future software updates can be made at the customer's convenience without having to visit a retailer. Two Meridian sound systems offer enhanced sound reproduction.

Most of the changes to the new F-Type involve the restyling of the front of the car. A new front bumper and enlarged grille give the sports car a slightly wider and more aggressive appearance. Super-slim pixel LED headlights with subtly updated signature "Calligraphy" J daytime running lights provide some balance. The headlights used to be larger and longer, extending up the front hood. Now they are wide and narrow. The difference is like going from a surprised look to a power squint.

The back of this car has always looked great. Wisely, there are few changes here. The rear haunches enhance the F-Type's inherently big-cat-ready-to-pounce form, while the new slender rear lights give it a signature LED look.

The interior combines traditional Jaguar craftsmanship with rich, contemporary materials such as Windsor Leather and satin-finish Noble Chrome. High-end 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 center console finisher, glovebox release button surround, and seatbelt guides.

The 12.3-in. reconfigurable HD TFT instrument cluster offers a choice of different displays including full map mode, but the default mode shows the large central rev counter. This feature and the gearshift light subtly convey the F-Type's driver-focused character and performance potential.

All engines -- 300-PS turbocharged four-cylinder (295 hp), 380-PS supercharged V6 (375 hp), and 450-PS and 575-PS V8s (444 hp and 567 hp) -- feature active exhaust systems, which are switchable either as an option or as standard. Customers who choose the 450-PS or 575-PS supercharged V8s benefit from the new Quiet Start function, which provides a more subtle, refined sound. Here, the electrically actuated bypass valves in the rear silencer remain closed until they automatically open up under load. If desired, Quiet Start can be overridden 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 rewarding performance -- its maximum torque of 580 Nm is generated from just 2,500 rpm. It is offered with a choice of all-wheel drive and (for purists) rear-wheel drive. Both versions can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 sec and reach a maximum speed of 177 mph.

The F-Type R gets a supercharged V8 with performance raised to 575 PS and 700 Nm (up from 550 PS and 680 Nm, respectively). Sprinting to 60 mph in this version takes only 3.5 sec. Maximum speed is electronically limited to 186 mph. The F-Type R also gets an uprated chassis with new, wider, 20-in., 10-spoke wheels in Gloss Black with contrast Diamond-Turned finish, and new adaptive dampers, springs, anti-roll bars, and stiffer rear knuckles and ball joints. So don't be shy about taking this car out in all types of weather and most standard road types.

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 and has refinements such as the Exterior Design Pack in contemporary Dorchester Grey and five-spoke, 20-in. wheels in Gloss Technical Grey with contrast Diamond-Turned finish, complementing the choice of Santorini Black, Eiger Grey (shown below), or Fuji White paint. Very slick.

The F-Type range is built at Jaguar's Castle Bromwich plant in the UK, and will also include a convertible option. You can order now for delivery next year, probably in late summer. Pricing was not released but should stay close to current starting costs: F-Type Coupe 4-cylinder $61,600, F-Type R-Dynamic Coupe V6 $84,300, F-Type R Coupe V8 $101,800.

Source: Jaguar

Published December 2019

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