Or so they claim.
UK luxury carmaker Jaguar have announced the arrival of a new special-edition variant of its well-loved F-Type sports car, aimed to commemorate 7-decades since the brand first started making sports cars. It was back in 1948 when Jaguar introduced the XK120 which, for the first time, brought Jaguar’s racing pedigree to the road. Even then, Autocar remarked that “the car is completely at home” on Alpine roads, and “responds to every wish of the driver.” A remarkable start to Jaguar’s now-illustrious sports car history, then.
The special edition, dubbed the F-Type Chequered Flag, is fitting, if not particularly well titled. Based on the existing coupé and convertible versions of the F-Type R, opting for the Chequered Flag package throws in various little aesthetic changes that are inspired by Jaguar’s sports car heritage.
“Perfect proportions, design purity, and visual drama – every Jaguar must express these qualities, and none more so than the F-Type. In creating the Chequered Flag, we’ve focused on details which enhance the F-Type’s presence and promise of performance. And in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70-years of beautiful, fast, Jaguar sports cars.” — Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar
Exterior upgrades include things like 20-inch gloss-black alloys, side skirts, and exterior finishes of either Carpathian Grey, Fuji White, or Caldera Red, with coupe models gaining a black roof too.
Step inside and F-Type Chequered Flag models benefit from black suede headlining, Windsor leather embossed sports seats, Chequered Flag branding on the headrests and treadplates, and a brushed aluminium centre console that takes on a particularly dark hue.
There are no changes under the bonnet, and so there’s still a choice between a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Ingenium engine (which is not to be discounted), or a 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engines in either 250kW/450Nm or 280kW/460Nm states of tune. All power goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic as standard, though the top-spec 280kW model gets the choice of all-wheel drive.
While F-Type Chequered Flag models are already on sale in the UK (with prices starting at £62,335, a considerable ask over the standard F-Type’s £57,925 ask), it’s unclear if the model will be brought to other markets like ours. This writer reckons we don’t need it, as the offered kit does little to improve or alter the fine dynamic characteristics and balanced overall appeal of the F-Type. Regardless, be sure to stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
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