Whilst facelifting the F-Type, Jaguar has dropped the V6 engine from its line-up, meaning the next step up from the base four-cylinder is now a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 444bhp and 580Nm of torque.
This hefty V8 can be had in either rear- or all-wheel drive. This is good news, and it had us reminiscing about the old rear-wheel drive F-Type R that quietly went off sale a few years ago. It’s fair to say it was quite a lairy thing…
… and even Jag admits the new one will be too. Hurrah! UK Marketing Director Anthony Bradbury said at the reveal of the facelifted car that it might even be a bit tricky on a wet road.
Jag is also keen to stress that the V8-engined rear-wheel drive F-Type can be bought new for less than £70,000 – well, it’s £69,990 before options. Let’s celebrate with more TopGear magazine pictures of slidey F-Types.
These days if you want an F-Type R, you’ll get 567bhp and 700Nm of torque, but you can only have it with all-wheel drive. Probably for the best, we say.
Jag reckons the RWD V8 is ‘for the purists’. We reckon it’s mainly for the skids.
The old one was absolutely fantastic fun, as witnessed here at TG’s Speed Week in 2014. “Don’t mind me chaps.”
So, thanks Jaguar. We can’t wait for a bit more of this…
