With a few model years under its belt, Jaguar’s F-Type has established itself as a solid contender for buyers in the market for a high-end personal sports GT. With drop-dead-gorgeous styling and seating strictly for two, the F-Type could, in my opinion, be likened to a British Corvette—a no-nonsense, high-value-for-fair-dollar machine that looks and performs on par with much pricier Euro exotics.
For example, the 200 mph F-Type SVR is a vicious performer, powered by a 575 hp V-8. It tops the lineup and, starting at a tick under $122,000, is a serious piece of work. But as Popeye occasionally muttered, “Enough is enough, and enough is too much.” Which is why Jaguar’s new F-Type 400 Sport may be just the ticket for those who want a delightfully balanced GT that doesn’t overwhelm its driver with too much of a good thing.
The interior of the Jaguar F-Type 400 Sport. Photo: Courtesy Jaguar Land Rover.
Lightweight aluminum construction for the body and chassis is Jaguar’s byword these days. Underpinned by a double-wishbone suspension and powered by a selection of 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines, the British carmaker believes there is more than one way to (inevitable feline reference) skin the cat.
I noticed this back in 2013 during the launch of the first V-6 and V-8 F-Type models. There, in the north of Spain, the V-8-powered car was a brilliant performer on the open highway, but on challenging serpentine roads that really test the mettle of a sports car, the V-6-powered car was a more willing partner and became my F-Type of choice. (Its central-exit twin-trumpet exhausts were a delightful reminder of the original twin-outlet E-Type.) With its lighter engine and even better balance, the V-6 proved to be more nimble and fun than its more powerful sibling. The same largely holds true for today’s 400 Sport.
The car features lightweight aluminum construction for the body and chassis. Photo: Courtesy Jaguar Land Rover.
Still, the new 400 Sport is hardly a wallflower, with a 4.8-second time from standstill to 60 mph and a top speed of 171 mph. Its 3-liter supercharged V-6 engine, an uprated version of the 380 hp unit found in the F-Type R Dynamic, makes 400 hp. It delivers 339 ft lbs of torque—between 3,500 and 5,500 rpm—via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifts. Rear-wheel- or all-wheel-drive configurations are available, with a base MSRP of $89,500 and $92,000, respectively. Our test car was wisely outfitted with all-wheel drive, which tames the feral, tail-happy rear-wheel-drive F-Type and turns it into a much more approachable domestic cat.
Offered in an exclusive palette of white, silver, and black shades, the 400 Sport is visually distinguished by a Sport Design Package with dark satin trim complemented by gloss black accents and dark-satin-gray, 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels. The model’s yellow 400 Sport script embellishes black brake calipers, a front splitter, and a rear deck. Carbon-ceramic brakes with yellow calipers and 20-inch split-spoke black metallic wheels are a $12,240 option that make a particularly emphatic impression. Inside, Sport seats with 400 Sport embroidery on the headrests and contrast stitching will remind owners that they’re driving something very special.
Comments