New Jaguar F-type 2025: Modern design and powerful V-8 engines

With a classically beautiful body and only V-8 engine options, the New Jaguar F-Type is a sort of retro sports car. Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette or the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, the Jaguar’s powerplant sits in front of the driver, rather than behind him. This gives the F-Type dramatic proportions and a very different driving experience. The exciting sound of its supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, which produces between 444 and 575 horses, is another distinction.

Roadster F-Type

While the Jag doesn’t stop, pull and grab as short, fast and strong as its peers, both the coupe and convertible will excite the senses. Unfortunately, its upscale cabin is claustrophobic and drop-top models have less storage space than the already cramped coupes. The Jaguar F-Type also has a higher starting price than its classmates, but perhaps its elegance and old-school charm are enough to make up for that difference.

What’s new ?

The F-Type is now only available with a V-8 engine under the hood. For , Jaguar is dropping the previously standard turbo-four as well as the optional supercharged V-6. That means the least powerful F-Type – the newly christened P450 – has a 444-hp, 5.0-liter supercharged. It’s a detuned version of the 575-hp V-8 that motivates the more powerful R variant, which will continue to be offered only with all-wheel drive. The new P450 comes standard with rear-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, larger rear brakes and an active exhaust system. The P450 R-Dynamic adds all-wheel drive, black exterior trim and a different set of wheels.

Since we prefer our sports cars with rear-wheel drive, we’d go with the regular F-Type P450. We’d also enjoy the ability to drop the top and listen to the unfiltered roar of its V-8, which means we’d go with the convertible over the coupe. It comes standard with leather and microsuede seats, a power-adjustable steering column, a Meridian stereo, and front and rear parking sensors. We’d finish ours in attractive British Racing Green, but Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has a wide range of interesting colors if that’s not your thing. Inside, we’d upgrade to the leather performance seats, which offer lateral support and include additional interior luxuries (customizable ambient lighting, illuminated metal entry guards). So we can also select the 12-way power seats with heated and cooled surfaces, and memory settings for the seats, steering column, and outside mirrors. The only other option we would add is the climate package, which includes a heated steering wheel and windshield, as well as dual-zone automatic climate control.

Engine, transmission and performance

Besides the Corvette, the F-Type is the only other sports car in its class to offer a V-8. Even the base P450, with its 444-hp supercharged 5.0-liter engine and rear- or all-wheel drive, is more powerful than the most powerful six-cylinder Boxster and Cayman, which have 414 ponies. Then there’s the even more powerful F-Type R, with 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With standard all-wheel drive and the same eight-speed automatic as the P450, the R coupe we drove roared to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and through the quarter mile in 11.7 seconds at 121 mph. While the V-8-powered Jags sound fantastic, their front-engine layout contributes to a different driving experience than their mid-engine rivals. We were particularly pleased with the R’s civilized ride and talkative, if sensitive, steering. It also delivered a remarkable 1.0 g of cornering grip and stopped from 70 mph in a decent 155 feet. While those numbers are fairly common among modern sports cars, they’re not quite as impressive as those of the Corvette and Porsches.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

We expect the 575-hp F-Type R with all-wheel drive to be rated at 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. While we don’t know how efficient the less powerful P450 will be, it should be a bit more economical at the pump, especially the rear-drive model. We ran an R coupe on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, part of our extensive testing program, and it exceeded expectations by returning 27 mpg. For more information on the F-Type’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, comfort and cargo

Inside, the Jaguar F-Type retains a driver-focused design accented by a mix of racy and classy materials, including stitched surfaces, faux suede accents and chrome trim. Fancier models will offer even better interiors that include aluminum bits, embossing and more faux suede upholstery. Two differently styled seats are available, which can be upgraded with heated and cooled surfaces. The F-Type’s excellent driving position is also carried over, and the driver will now face a large 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. Unfortunately, the coupe and convertible’s notoriously cramped cabin and the convertible’s hilariously small trunk also remain.

Infotainment and connectivity

Every F-Type features a 10.0-inch touchscreen that supports the company’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment software. The system includes popular content such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard . The sports car is also available with a premium audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless phone charging.

Safety and driver assistance functions

Jaguar equips its sports car with a range of standard and optional driver assistance technologies. For more information on the F-Type’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist as standard
• Available blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Jaguar offers competitive limited and powertrain warranties that are in line with luxury alternatives from Audi and BMW , but the British automaker outdoes both rivals with its industry-leading free scheduled maintenance.