Thought this piece might be of interest.

https://carbuzz.com/best-engine-option-jaguar-f-type/

 

Interesting article. I own an F type R with the 575 hp V8, but I agree with the author, that the 6 cylinder engine might be the best choice for this car. I base my assumption comparing my previous car, a 2020 bmw Z 4 M40i which produced 389 hp with a turbo charged V6, to the handling of my Jag.. The bmw had a shorter wheelbase so that has to be factored in, but the bimmer was superior to the Jag in the twisties. It was a very capable and fun car to drive. But....I'll still take my Jag over the bmw for pure driving thrills. The V 8 is an incredible motor that never fails to put a smile on my face.

 

Although I drove an R before purchasing my base v6, I found the R to be a bit over-the-top and heavy. As well, the v6 [335hp] appeared to be a bit under-powered so I was thrilled at the difference that installing the VAP stage 1 tune made. At 416hp, it has never felt under-powered in any situation.

 

Looking at Carbuzz's weight benefit claim and the torque specs, it occurred to me that the V6 is still hauling an 8-cylinder block, and its 330-odd lb-ft torque doesn't kick in till 3500 rpm. The real weight champ, which makes it objectively the best-handling/cornering F-Type, is the lowly turbo-4 P300, whose thoroughly sufficient 295 lb-ft are available from only 1500 rpm. If you don't track your car, the P300 provides plenty of grunt on ordinary roads, especially in the twisties.

 

Advertised weight difference between the RWD V6 and V8 is 120#. Drove both before purchasing the 2014 V8S. All versions have their attributes, but to me the V8 with RWD is the desired configuration. Love having all that instant torque underfoot!

 

The V8 has longer gearing in the differential. Running around town at 1100 rpm is SO smooth. This has other advantages, as the wear and tear on the drivetrain is proportionally reduced. V8s are about more than raw power. It's also about smoothness and low-rpm everyday use. The HP is there when you want it, of course. Love the Jag V8.

 

I thought that as much as Jag likes producing special editions, they should have done a lightweight P300 - lose 100lbs (or more), and squeeze a few more HP out of the Ingenium.

 

I actually prefer the v6 to the 8 to drive, I think I can handle it pretty well and I think I drive it better than any car I've owned. But if I had the option to swap mine with its extra bits for a RWD R with the same extra bits, I would be on it like a fat kid on a cupcake. The same for an AWD R probably, though I wasnt a massive fan of the horizontal gills

 

I think it is down to the experience you're looking for. I've driven an AWD V6 (think it was a 2016? Can't remember) and I have my 2015 R back to back. Loved them both. They felt like different cars. Honestly not sure about ultimate handling and grip, weight difference of maybe 120lbs probably makes some difference, but we are talking about 3700+ lb cars to begin with, not Exiges here. You can drive a V6 more "in anger" and focus on the dynamics of the car more vs. the extra concentration of having to manage the extra power. For a good while I wasn't sure about the nimbleness of my R either until I became more confident driving the car harder - once I stopped focusing so much on power management and I pushed it harder, I found the car came alive. It's about the driving experience, not .15 g's more than the other car on a skid pad or whatever some article says. This goes for the 4 cylinder too, I imagine it is a hoot because it's a tiny bit lighter still and you can peg the throttle and the car just hangs on. None of them are superior to the other IMHO, pick on what feels good to you. Personally I have never owned a big HP car in my life and I was seeking out that "animal" experience. The 2015 R (modified) suited the experience I was seeking.

 

Great article, OP. Thanks for sharing. The author forgot to mention that above all, what makes the V6 the top pick engine for the F-type is the fact that it's only engine size made available with a manual transmission. Sometimes I wonder about tuning my P340 but I'm no drifter like the gentleman from the Drive Nation YouTube channel with his 400 Sport and I like pushing the car to the limit on the twisties while keeping it under control.

 

My wife says I'm too old for the V8. I picked the V6S based on Clarkson,s Top Gear review. I ignored his comment about the trunk or lack of.

 

Both are great. I prefer the noise of the v6 and the shorter gearing for dynamic driving....it too can "purr" around town if needed....

 

As a previous V6S owner and current P450 V8, the V6S is definitely the more sporty car to drive, not much in the handling, but the V6 engine loves to be revved and the shorter gears make it a blast. The V8 just has so much theatre though, plus I wanted the facelift exterior\interior and the V6 isn't available post 2020 in the UK.

I would also like to echo the comments above regarding the Z4, albeit my girlfriend has the Supra with the same engine. It's a much punchier car to drive, that engine spools up so quickly, so much torque coupled with super short gearing too and the handling is just awesome. Supra is quicker than my P450 for sure, but it doesn't make the same noise!

 

Good article with some very valid points and he doesn't even mention the engine/exhaust sound difference which also speaks for the V6. Both great options and at the end of the day it boils down to how you want your F-Type to feel - like an Italian sports car or a German muscle car. I know what I prefer, never got the point of sticking a 5L V8 in an F-Type and agree with the article.

 

Having owned several automatic coupes: 2015 & 2016 V6S RWD, 2018 V6 R-Dynamic AWD, 2015 V8 R RWD along with 2020 & 2022 Supras, the 2015 V6S RWD is my favorite. Hydraulic steering along with RWD and 19" wheels gave me the best feel when handling. With 19" all-season tires the ride was also the quietest and smoothest. It was also the lightest of the F-Type coupes because it lacked all options. According to magazine articles, F-Type convertibles are a wee bit lighter. V6 AWD F-Types actually weigh a few pounds more than a RWD V8 coupe (check out Car & Driver tests). Still, BMW 6 cylinder sports cars and my Supras will blow away any V6 F-Type, are the equal to the later P450 RWD coupes, and have the responsiveness of V8 F-Types. Bimmer engines have very underrated hp figures. Plus, Z4s and Supras weigh a good 800 pounds less than a F-Type, yielding consistent 35 mpg when cruising US interstates at the speed limit (I was lucky to obtain 30 mpg in similar driving with my 2015 V6S RWD coupes). I found out the hard way how fast an I6 Bimmer can be when chasing one. However, a 2015 V6 RWD coupe with a glass roof is my favorite. Their exhaust note is intoxicating, it can be much quieter than the V8s and Supras/Z4s when cruising on 19" wheels & all-season tires, and it has a nice feel during handling. Bimmers and Supras are just cold-hearted machines. And then there is the style...the beauty, inside and out, of any F-Type! F-Types have heart.

 

According to my handbook, the V6 convertibles are 20 kg heavier than the coupe equivalents while the difference is 15 kg for the V8. So like for like the coupes are the lighter variants.

 

I stand corrected. Convertibles are heavier as are V8s except for my 2018 AWD V6 coupe which is heavier than my 2015 RWD V8 coupe. From Car & Driver (C&D):

2015 RWD R coupe - 3,917
2016 RWD R convertible - 4,075
2017 AWD SVR convertible- 4,104

2015 RWD V6S coupe - 3,835
2016 RWD V6S coupe (manual) - 3,782
2018 AWD 400 coupe - 3,982

I only compared weights provided by C&D because they independently weigh the vehicles they test.

 

I think the sound of these V6 F-types are pretty epic. Sound absolutely amazing but part of me wonders if it might get old after a while? Regardless, they sound awesome.

For me I had always envisioned a V8 in any F-type I would purchase. It was basically non-negotiable from the day the car got on my radar many years ago.

As for the 4 cylinder. I just can’t accept that engine in a car like the F-Type. This might not be well received, but I don’t think that engine should have ever been green lighted. It brings the car down as far as I’m concerned. There’s all kinds of cheaper 4 cylinder options on the market. Why did they do it? Budget play only. I tend to think very few people would go for that engine in a car like this, other than for budget reasons. That’s how I genuinely feel about it.

 

Europeans and other countries tax a lot for any engine greater than 2.0 liters. Plus, for those desiring a F-Type but think that it is too much money, the lower price of the 4 cylinder might be anuff to entice them. I really don't know but that's my guess.

Toyota did the same with the Supra. Sadly, the BMW 4 cylinder in the Supra goes as fast as the V6 in the F-Type. I still bought two I6 Supras.


But the V6 F-Type RWD coupe remains my preference. We got rid of our Supras only because I didn't have the garage space to store one during the NH winter months. Technically, Supras are a better performer and hold their value; however, given the choice, I prefer a F-Type. The F-Type has a heart and soul.

 

Yeah I kind of agree about the 4 banger. Feels a bit weird in an exclusive semi-GT car like the F-Type and is a type of engine that belongs more in other classes of cars like cheaper sports cars like a Miata or Audi TT, or in hatchbacks like the VW Golf, BMW 1 series, Merc A class etc. I've driven two P300 F-Types and it's actually a pretty good engine that works pretty well in the F-Type except that it totally lacks the soul and drama of the V6/V8. Anyway I can understand that some people are happy with the engine.

It definitely makes sense tax wise in some countries. There are huge differences among the European countries but as said there are some where taxes are crazy on bigger engines. I guess Jaguar were also trying to come up with new ways of selling more F-Types because they weren't selling enough of them and it was maybe also about emissions. Back when they popped the four banger into the F-Type it was also in line with their now miserably failed strategy to build volumes through dumbed downed cheaper models.