http://www.topgear.com/car-news/british/watch-out-porsche-jaguar-readies-four-cylinder-f-type#1

Discuss.

 

gonna be interesting to "see" how that sounds

 

4-cyl automatic F-type? Ideal car for my secretary.

 

Square exhaust is actually cool, but my ambivalence here is powerful

 

You may not like the looks, but there's nothing shabby about the performance of this car. It outperforms the V6S.

Ford Focus RS Reviews - Ford Focus RS Price, Photos, and Specs - Car and Driver

 

Fords putting some interesting and decent styled cars on the market. This being one of them

 

I'd be happy to trade you a new Focus RS for your pokey V6.
(everyone should have a vert in the stable)

 

No thanks, just trying to illustrate a point to those dissing the capabilities of what's possible in today's 4-bangers.

 

And, a point well made. (the offer's still good, lol)

 

Ford is absolutely killing it, frankly. I've been watching the industry way to closely for the last 10 years as I embarked on my journey to find a new car and eventually this F-Type. But it is so fascinating the public's perception that is generally driven by marketing, versus the reality of the machines. I don't want to sound like a "I know more than the general public guy" and I *KNOW* most of you are far more informed about cars than I am, but from my perspective:

Mercedes started taking a dive about 5+ years ago. Then BMW and Audi... performance, parts, service, etc just seems to have slid. While everyone seems to be buying those, little guys like Hyundai and Kia have made *crazy* strides.

But in my mind, since the 2008 downturn and bail out, Ford is a beautiful and shining example of how to do it right. The Ford Fusion alone is a truly magnificent car with a huge range of options to make any consumer really happy. I actually was considering it *very* early on, prior to working my *** off to actually afford what I want versus what I could get. It doesn't hurt that they copped the Aston Martin front grille. A lot of the mid-range companies are really doing luxury design knock off better than the luxury guys.... who's design has really seemed to drop off a cliff. Sometimes I spot a Kia thinking it's a Merc, or I see a Merc's rear end and think it's a Hyundai, where Hyundai's design is actually better at this point? I may be off on my own island tho.

But Ford really is doing a fantastic job... and I have zero hate for 4cylinder cars. My Jeep and Mini are both economical and efficient for what they are (Jeep not so efficient lol).

But it's almost as if Ford took the Jaguar CEO's wonderful comment to heart....

"If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design."
— Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO Jaguar

 

FWIW, Ford eventually told the feds to take their bailout money and shove it. They never participated.

 

Not exactly, and I was at the hearing to discuss the need for the bailout. The CEOs from Chrysler, Ford, and GM all testified. The Ford CEO at the time (Alan Mullaly) supported the need for that funding and it's importance to the health of the U.S. economy. However, he said Ford was in a position to survive without it.

 

Well, kinda exactly. They participated in the discussions, but by the time the bailout plan had been fully developed, they had already raised the needed $24.5B through collateralized debt. Did not need to turn over any equity to the feds.

 

Figured the front page would find this interesting...
Jaguar Spied Prototyping 2.0-Liter Engine in F-Type

 

Yes, that's much more like it, but that's not even close to what you said above. :-)

 

This is seriously lame. Part of what the F-Type fun to own is that they aren't very common. If this is significantly cheaper than the base F-Type I think they'll crop up all over the place. At that point I'd sell mine and move on to something more unique.

 

I call that telling them to stuff it by not accepting any of the fund. Perhaps not the polite way of saying it.

 

Agreed. I believe we have a couple more years to make that determination, but we'll have to wait and see if they start popping up everywhere. I actually passed one in my town the other day (black) which surprised me. Have to keep an eye out..

 

If Jaguar wish to make the F-Type available to less pecunious buyers, why not reduce the price of the V6? All companies prices are artificial and do not reflect the true cost of manufacture. It's all about perception.

 

Focus Rs, great boy's car. Probably good for impressing other boys.
Men would be better served in life and career with an XE.