What's the news?

The Cat is back and here is a first look at the updated Jaguar F-Type, set to go on sale in 2020. Since its debut in 2013, the two-seater coupe has been turning heads with its stylish design and from next year, it benefits from an even sleeker-looking appearance with a new front end.

And what's going on with that new face?

A significant part of the new look is down to the introduction of a revised clamshell bonnet design that draws inspiration from the company's classic models like the C-Type and D-Type. Created to give the impression of 'liquid metal', the bonnet flows down over new ultra-slim LED headlights that incorporate a new iteration of Jaguar's signature 'Calligraphy' J-shaped LED daytime running light. The bonnet vents shift further forward to improve cooling and the side vents now carry the Jaguar Leaper.

The front gets a larger grille that is wider and also deeper, with a new hexagonal mesh pattern. On R-Dynamic models, there are layered J-blades that help to guide airflow around the car, while R models get gloss black bezels around the apertures. Subtle updates to the rear LED lights give them a slimmer appearance. A 'Chicane' light graphic similar to that on the electric Jaguar I-Pace continues the company's latest design themes. A reprofiled rear bumper enhances the visual width of the car. The entry-level four-cylinder model uses a central quadrilateral-shaped exhaust, while the V6 engine gets two single, round exhausts, which exit via the rear diffuser. With the more powerful V8 engined versions, there are quad exhausts, two on each side of the rear diffuser.

Jaguar will also continue to offer the F-Type as a Convertible, retaining the same fabric soft-top roof as before. Due to the stowage required for the roof, the boot capacity does decrease from the 299 litres beneath the Coupe's parcel shelf, to 233 litres. The better news is that Jaguar does not list any performance differences between the two body styles and only an average of 20kg difference in weight.

Has the inside changed?

Overall, the cabin layout inside the F-Type remains mostly the same, but Jaguar has brought it into the 2020s with the addition of a new 12.3-inch TFT instrument display. The configurable screen can show the driver a selection of different themes, ranging from a full map view for navigation or a large rev counter complete with shift light for more focused driving.

The 12.3-inch Touch Pro infotainment display gets some enhancements, and will offer the latest in smartphone connectivity and mirroring through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other details around the centre console include new 'Jaguar Est.1935' markings. Buyers will be able to choose from two high-end Meridian sound systems, but if you're more petrolhead than audiophile then the exhaust continues to emit a distinctive flare upon startup. If this isn't quite your (or your neighbours') thing, there is now a 'Quiet Start' function for the V8 engines that allows owners to start the engine more discreetly. This function keeps the exhaust valves shut until they are overridden through increased power load. Alternatively, drivers can bypass this quiet function by pressing the exhaust button before starting the engine.

Jaguar's interior design director, Alister Whelan, said: "A Jaguar interior should always look and feel special, and none more so than a sports car. And that's why we've focused our attention on beautiful details and refining still further the choice of rich materials and finishes, and adding to the sense of theatre that F-Type has always possessed.

"The high-definition virtual instrument cluster and new colourways - including Mars with Flame Red stitch - deepen the driver-focused character, as do the aluminium gearshift paddles and Engine Spin console finisher in the First Edition model. We've also proudly referenced our heritage in the precision-stamped Jaguar lettering on the seat belt guides and glovebox release - understated details like these are a fundamental part of Jaguar design DNA."

Talk to me about those engines.

In the UK, the new F-Type will come with a choice of three of the four engines that Jaguar will use, and all will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission featuring manual shifters. The range starts with a 300hp turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine sending power to the rear wheels only. The supercharged V6 engine won't make it to the UK, but we will get the two newly-developed V8 engines. This supercharged 5.0-litre V8 will be paired with a choice of either rear- or all-wheel-drive transmission, the latter to maximise grip and performance. The power output starts with a 450hp derivative that also generates 580Nm of torque. It is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 177mph, in both Coupe and Convertible guises.

Topping off the range is the F-Type R, which gets an uprated version of that supercharged V8 with the wick turned up to 575hp and a headrest-testing 700Nm of torque. Thanks to its all-wheel-drive set-up, the F-Type R blasts past the 62mph barrier in a supercar-baiting 3.7 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 186mph.

The new Jaguar F-Type will go on sale before the summer of 2020 with prices due to be confirmed early in the new year.

Dave Humphreys - 2 Dec 2019