Jaguar F-Type four-cylinder turbo is in the works
A report out of the UK would have us believe that there is a new entry-level Jaguar F-Type in the works, powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
A development prototype of the Jaguar F-Type is thought to be the test bed for a new model that will house a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder which will be joining the current supercharged engine line-up made up of the 250kW/450Nm and 280kW/460Nm 3.0-litre V6 and the 364kW/625Nm 5.0-litre V8.
The protoype is obviously suggesting the future use of a smaller and lighter engine but the model seen in tests also featured a different bonnet as well as a different exhaust system alongside an increased front ride height.
This speculation is strengthened by some comment made by Jaguar vehicle line director Ian Hoban last year, when he said that there is ‘great potential’ in using a high-output turbo-four in the F-Type and that there were quite a few capable powertrains and drivelines that could fit into this new sports car.
One such powertrain is the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine dubbed the ‘Hotfire’ which is already going to be used in the XF. The same one is also going to power Jaguar’s forthcoming BMW-Series-rivalling premium mid-sized sedan meant to start production in 2015.
This new F-Type model will be Jaguar’s first-ever four-cylinder sports car, a trend that has long been a staple of Japanese manufacturers and would give the British marque a direct rival to Porche’s anticipated 2.0-litre turbo-powered Boxster and Cayman twins which will hit the market in 2016.
Besides the improvements in terms of efficiency figures, this new four-cylinder F-Type would carry less weight and pledges enhanced agility. The report also speculates that a four-wheel-drive system could also be added to the construct, thus reworking tech borrowed from the all-paw version of the XF and XJ sedans.
