What's the news?
Jaguar's F-Type sports car has been around since 2012, and upgrades to the range have been announced at the Detroit Motor Show. These include some visual revisions, upgraded interior technology and two new standalone model variants, with the first cars due to be available shortly.
Exterior
The front bumper sees one-piece openings instead of the existing double aperture 'shark gills', covered with lozenge mesh and increasing in size depending on the potency of the model specified. Full LED headlights now utilise the daytime running lights as indicators, emit a colour temperature similar to natural daylight and work with the Adaptive Front Lighting System, which can alter beam and focus depending on driving conditions. The LED tail light clusters also have darker lenses.
Interior
New detail changes including different finishers for the centre console, chrome finishes on certain controls and the option of Siena Tan leather throughout the range (previously only available on the SVR model). Lightweight magnesium-framed slimline seats are said to save more than eight kilos of weight, and come in two designs - Sport and Performance. Both types allow extra rearward movement, optimising the driving position, while the Performance seat features extra support in the shoulder area.
The new Touch Pro infotainment system is standard across the range, and boasts a high-speed Solid-State Drive (SSD) with an Ethernet network. This aids speed and ease of use of the functions displayed on the eight-inch touchscreen, and connectivity and navigation aids feature strongly. InControl Touch Pro provides an audio system developed in conjunction with British company Meridian, and a 12-speaker Surround Sound option is available.
An app developed with GoPro allows data and video to be combined for later analysis. ReRun gathers information from sensors on parameters such as throttle position, g-forces, speed and braking force. This can then be downloaded onto the driver's smartphone or PC, and could prove handy for shaving those extra tenths off that Mondello lap time...
Anything else?
While most of the changes focus on the visual and infotainment aspects, two new model variants will also be available. The 400 Sport launch edition will be available for one year only, and features 400hp, a limited-slip differential, bigger brakes and grey 20-inch rims. It also gets unique badging inside and out, along with special paint options.
The R-Dynamic model gets black highlights on the front splitter, rear diffuser, sills and bonnet vents, and can be had with 340hp or 380hp versions of the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine. It will be available in coupe and roadster styles, with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions and the option of rear or all-wheel drive. The range topping R and SVR models are now all-wheel drive only, so those looking for the traditional rear-wheel drive sports car experience will have to plump for the lower-powered versions to get their fix.