2021 Jaguar F-Type: Refreshed and Refined

Jaguar has revealed its facelifted 2021 F-Type, offering a sleeker body and angrier mug. Headlamps are now oriented horizontally, possessing the LED accenting we saw on the Vision Gran Turismo concept. The rest is more-or-less what you’d expect from the brand. Some of the curves have been smoothed out, an industry trend this writer has very mixed feelings about. But nobody screwed the pooch here. The F-Type remains an exceptionally attractive vehicle, intent on grabbing everyone’s attention without being obnoxiously flamboyant.

Overall, it’s a comprehensive update that transforms the vehicle without making it feel alien or desperate. You might even be fooled into thinking it was entirely new — which is the whole point of a mid-cycle refresh.

While smaller head-and-tail lamps do a lot to give the British two-seater a new persona on the outside, the interior hasn’t changed much. Considering the vast amount of customizability Jaguar already offers, this is a non-issue. But the manufacturer has saw fit to include a new 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster with multiple display themes. There are also some new material options (depending on which seats you get), but none of it is likely to be free.

Ditto for the paint, which Jag said comes in 16 different hues (32 if you also count the different finishes). Most of the wheel designs will be carried over from the previous model year, but the manufacturer does plan on giving the F-Type it’s own set of 20 inchers with an extra 10 millimeters of width in order to help the coupe lay (Pirelli P Zero) rubber more effectively.

General enhancements have been applied to the model’s suspension and electrically assisted power steering have both been gently massaged to create a more connected feel between car and driver. The rear suspension now employs aluminum (Jaguar’s favorite metal) knuckles that work in tandem with larger wheel bearings and revised upper ball joints. Jaguar claimed this increased camber and toe stiffness by 37 percent and 41 percent, respectively. Jag also improved its torque vectoring (via braking) system to help banish unwanted understeer while tossing on some new springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars.

Having driven one of the older models from 2016 (directly below), ditching some of the initial understeer is probably a blessing for most drivers. The car was hoot but frequently went wide into corners before starting to rotate — often quickly and to my surprise.

This absolutely can be managed by any competent driver who eases into the car’s limits but Jaguar has done quite a bit to make the car more predictable over the years. It would be interesting to see how the 2021 F-Type stacks up against the introductory units in a direct comparison.

Powertrains are all holdovers, with the top-tier V8 providing more oomph than ever before. The base 2.0-liter offers 296 horsepower and a claimed zero-to-60 time of 5.4 seconds. Climbing the ladder will have you sitting in a supercharged V6 delivering 380 hp with mandatory all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the 5.0-liter V8 found on the R has been sweetened to crank out 575 hp and 516 foot-pounds — numbers that were previously exclusive to the SVR Coupé. JLR said to expect 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds.

Jaguar has also decided to offer an F-Type First Edition variant for the refresh. Based on the R-Dynamic model it automatically receives the exterior design package in Dark Satin Grey and five-spoke, 20-inch Gloss Technical Gray with Contrast Diamond Turned finish wheels. Paint choices are limited to Santorini Black, Eiger Grey or Fuji White.

Pricing and availability for the 2021 Jaguar F-Type are currently a mystery but it should go on sale sometime next year. We don’t imagine MSRP to climb by much, leaving the base price somewhere around $63,000. Though that sum can easily double if you’re interested in the big engine and some of the slicker options.

[Images: Jaguar Land Rover]