The sleek front-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seat coupe gets a new look and a $343k with COE price tag

SINGAPORE

A year after the updated styling was previewed, the 2021 Jaguar F-Type has landed in Singapore to a tune of S$342,999 with COE.    

The base model has 300 horsepower and a peak torque output of 400Nm, enough for a 0 to 100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds. It all comes from a 2.0-litre, turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine. It’s really a sign of the times as more luxury performance cars are being offered with smaller capacity engines making big power through forced induction rather than traditional large capacity V8 behemoths. 

Officially, the 2.0-litre F-Type is the only variant on the local price list, though if you’re interested in the more traditional 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 version with 450 horsepower or the monster 575 horsepower supercharged V8 in the form of the F-Type R, they are available in Singapore on an indent-only basis.

Wat it means is that you make an expression of interest to buy one, pay a deposit, and at the next production run of the car at the factory an order will be placed for one to be sent here. Lead times are entirely dependent on the factory production schedules and typically run from between three months to even a year. 

Jaguar’s F-Pace is here for drivers that want power with space

The new car gets a 12.3-inch driver display screen, Jaguar’s Touch Pro infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, plus software-over-the-air functionality for future updates. A Meridian sound system rounds off the interior updates. 

External differences from the pre-update model include slimmer LED headlights, sweeping direction indicators, a larger forward-opening clamshell bonnet clamshell bonnet and slightly enlarged front intake grille.

This is the coupe that everyone’s talking about right now

Those in the know will realise that the four-cylinder F-Type can be distinguished from the rear by the gigantic single centre exhaust pipe while the V8 variants have four exhaust tips. The car may have its engine in the front, but like the classic Jaguar E-Type from 1961, it’s a two-seater with a long nose and a modestly sized boot. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an  eight-speed automatic transmission.

The top-spec, 575hp F-Type R uses four-wheel drive to propel the car from 0 to 100km.h in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 300km/h, while the milder 450hp version does the same in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285km/h.  

What’s interesting is that the 450hp V8 version of the car can be bought in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive configuration. Officially, the performance figures are identical but we expect the 4WD version to corner better.

Early customers can also get hold of the F-Type First Edition. Based on the R-Dynamic trim, the First Edition is offered only during the first year of production and has additional cosmetic  add-ons such a unique wheel design and a sportier interior colours.

Jaguar’s XF sedan still has some claws yet

The current-gen F-Type is built around the brand’s D6a aluminium platform, first introduced in 2013 when the F-Type was launched. It’s an evolution of a design used in the final-generation Jaguar XK, a 2+2 grand tourer that was made until 2014.

Traditionally, luxury performance coupes have never been strong sellers in terms of outright numbers in Singapore. Supercars are another category altogether, but cars like the Jaguar F-Type and even the final-gen Audi TT before it was phased out remain relevant in giving the brands a sense of sporty dynamism in the face of a fickle car-buying crowd.

The immediate competition to the F-Type here is the Porsche Cayman, though the F-Type arguably has more street presence and these days is also a rarer sight on local roads.