F-Type Coupe

Make
Jaguar
Segment
Coupe

It was only a few days ago that our spy photographers captured a highly camouflaged Jaguar F-Type at the Nurburgring. Now our photogs have sent us more F-Type photos, although these reportedly show the automaker's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder model out for a spin. That's right, the long-rumored four-cylinder F-Type looks to be right around the corner. Currently the F-Type is offered with either a supercharged V6 or V8, although the V6 is on its way out to make room for an inline-six.

Jaguar's turbo-four makes 240 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque and is already offered in the XE. But what makes our spy photographers think this is a four-cylinder prototype? They were initially tipped off by the square-ish exhaust port. The V6 F-Type has dual exhaust pipes and the V8 uses a quad setup. A check was run with the British registration office, which revealed that the engine in the car was a 2.0-liter unit. Naturally the assumption is that this Jaguar will go after the new 718 Cayman and Boxster from Porsche. Both cars offer a 2.0-liter, turbocharged boxer engine with 300 horsepower. Compared to that unit the F-Type's would be down on power but that could change with some tinkering.

Where Jaguar's entry level F-Type would shine is in the looks department. The car is simply stunning in both its coupe and convertible forms. The 718 Cayman and Boxster aren't ugly at all but it's hard to outshine Jaguar's beautiful beast. Of course it will be impossible for consumers not to notice the differences between the cars in power and weight. The current F-Type has a curb weight of 3,455 pounds, almost 500 pounds more than the 718s. Of course new models always get nips and tucks, and that smaller engine should help things out (turbo be damned). If Jaguar can craft the right mix of power, price and weight then its turbo-four F-Type could become a serious threat to Porsche.