The Four-Cylinder Jaguar F-Type Will Sell By The Truckload, But It's A Fraud
Earlier this week Jaguar revealed the details of a new four-cylinder F-Type, shortly after which the other Matt referred to those people who disapprove of it as “moody purists“. Well, I guess he means me, because on principle alone, I can’t engage with it.
I’ve said some very positive things about the F-Type before. I’ve called the coupe one of the best-looking cars ever made, I’ve heaped adulation on the characterful V6 (which we’re running as a long-termer right now) and hilarious V8, and I’ve praised the high-quality interior. It’s fair to say I’d prefer it to be nine-tenths of its current size, but, overall, I’m a fan. Which is why I’m so damn cross about the four-pot.
What happened when Audi put a diesel in the TT? What happened when Mercedes put a diesel in the SLK? When any manufacturer ever built a model that looked like the one you really wanted but was less powerful, less exciting and much less good? People bought them, that’s what happened. They bought the cheaper, less interesting, less capable ones in their tens of thousands. Great from a business standpoint, but ideologically infuriating.
The really annoying thing is that with some of the models you simply don’t know whether it’s the good one or the pretender until you’re up close. Some can even be de-badged to hide their identity almost completely. It’s like their owners are ashamed of them. And herein lies the fundamental problem with cars that look like the full banana, but aren’t: they’re frauds. They’re riding on the coat tails of their betters, pretending to be all that when in fact their key component – their engine – can’t hope to live up to the car’s image.
If you buy a sports car, it should have a sports car engine. If you want an economical car, don’t buy a sports car. If you shove a diesel engine into a sports car, as per the Audi TT, it’s no longer a sports car. If you install a four-cylinder turbo into a car that was built for a thunderous V8, you might be able to tap handling advantages thanks to reduced weight (52kg in the F-Type’s case), but where’s the theatre? The drama? The sports car joie de vivre? Only time – and a good, long drive – will tell, but the current Ford Mustang makes a good reference point. In the EcoBoost vs V8 argument, things don’t look good for the former.
The four-pot F-Type has been compared to the likes of the Cayman and Boxster 718, since the Porsches have gone four-cylinder as well, but that’s nonsense. The first F-Type was deliberately placed between the Boxster/Cayman and the 911 on price to avoid too much direct competition with either. The four-cylinder F-Type coupe is still about £8000 more expensive than the 296bhp Cayman, and a fraction cheaper than a 345bhp Cayman S. Given how much sharper and more agile the Cayman is, the F-Type has to offer something the Porsche doesn’t. But, on paper at least, the new one falls short.
It’s only 38bhp short of the basic V6, and I can’t imagine Jaguar will sell too many of those now that there’s a cheaper option. The new four is a whisker faster to 62mph, after all, and more people will be swayed by price than by V6 character. Jaguar claims that the intake and exhaust will be tuned to deliver the goods in terms of noise and has released this clip, but although we need to hear it properly before making a final judgement, the first impressions are not good. I fear that the four-cylinder F-Type has got a prestigious name, but not the goods to back it up. It’s like a kid who pursues an unfulfilling football career at Barnet just because his dad played for Manchester United.
After deliveries start for the new entry-level car, I’ll be willing to bet that at least three-quarters of all new F-Types in the UK will only have four cylinders. One day soon you’ll be standing on a kerb watching one approach, ready to enjoy the V-burble as it passes, only to be greeted with… something less good. How can a four-cylinder F-Type engine be anything other than a relative disappointment? It could taint the model; slowly chip away at its prestige over time until all that’s left is an ordinary engine in a sporty body. The F-Type could become just another car sold on style, not charisma.
Clearly that doesn’t bother all the people who buy ST Line Fords, M Sport BMWs and S line Audis, and Jaguar will no doubt make a killing on the downsized, turbocharged car, but I can’t help but feel that the F-Type is better than this.
Comments
Well, car makers have to make things to sell many and make profit. Then they can make enough money to be able to sell less units of more expensive things that enthusiasts like.
It’s business. They sell an SUV, they sell an accessible car, they make profit, then they get to keep making the bonkers enthusiasts cars.
That’s how it works.
This guy gets it
That’s why we have to live with Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne
Ian Wright, bringing common sense to car throttle since November 2015
To be honest, I’m not sure how an engine producing 300bhp isn’t sporty. Ok the noise won’t be the same etc. But the power is still there.
This dude knows how it is
Ian Wright you are right (Ian Wright = I’am right)
Now I have a crush on the TT 2.0TDI….
Haters gonna hate
I love TT diesel
Somehow I feel like this won’t happen to the extent as it has with the TT and SLK. I feel like the F-type is more of an enthusiast’s car, and most of the people looking for style will be buying TTs, SLKs and Boxsters instead. Just my $0.02.
And then there is us who debadge the real thing so you don’t know whats under the bonnet… (Evil laugh)
You can tell by the exhaust
How many F-Types have you debadged?
You drive a Honda, Tom. No offense, but no one will wonder what engine it’s got ;-)
Sorry for the late reply. I realise now that what I wrote could be easily misunderstood.
I was refering to cars in general, and that many people remove the badges from the more sport inclined models so that the average joe is unaware of the car next to them. Not neccesarily the f-type in this article.
Personally I haven’t done it (although I have always liked the idea of owning a fast, disguised sleeper) but included myself just to keep it general and light hearted.
At least Jaguar haven’t yet made a diesel F-type SUV for those who want to look cool but are not interested in a proper sportscar
Oh wait a second…
But it’s a genuine good SUV… At least the SVR… I guess :/
Even my 2013 Mini Cooper (not even the s model) has an inline four, surely you could have done better than that Jaguar.
TATA messed this up
Sure, let’s compare your inline-four with something twice the power.
I bet your Mini has four wheels, too.
Disappointing of Jaguar not to have step up the game.
They have. They make V6 and V8 versions. I have yet to see a factory option for either from MINI.
This is, of course, only a problem if you’re not fond of the four cylinder, or, let’s be honest, not really fond of the car.
Because I assure you, if you liked the car that much, you wouldn’t care about its engine.
If you liked it because of its engine, how can you truly say you liked the car?
LET’S JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE.
There’s a turbocharged inline-4 F-Type
There’s a supercharged V6 F-Type
There’s TWO V8-powered F-Types.
The fact that there’s going to be more inline-4 F-Types would only mean that seeing and hearing an actual V6/V8 F-Type more of an occasion, wouldn’t it?
It’s simple. You don’t like the inline-4 F-Type, avoid it. There’s still a choice of a V6 or V8 engines. Unlike Volvo, who’s only gone for inline-4s only.
there are TWO V6 F-Types, the regular F-Type (no idea what they’ll call it now) and the F-Type S. Still, the 4 banger should have been a new model entirely.
There is always the Lotus Evora.
It’s so underrated for some reason. It’s absolutely fantastic. Sounds good, it handles well because well it’s a lotus, is lightweight and is reliable because it’s a Toyota engine and it’s also not that unpractical.
Additionally the new TT diesel woops the Cayman S 987 on the track.
#DieselPower