Jaguar has added a new, four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine to its F-Type sports car line-up.

The pairing of Jaguar’s all-aluminium two-seater with the new 300PS 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant delivers F-Type DNA with enhanced agility and improved efficiency and affordability. The latest model can accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155mph. The turbocharged engine’s high maximum torque of 400Nm, together with the eight-speed Quickshift transmission, delivers ‘exceptional response throughout the rev range’ says Jaguar.

Not only is the 300PS Ingenium engine the most powerful four-cylinder unit ever offered in a production Jaguar, it also generates the highest specific power output of any engine in the F-Type range; 150PS per litre. It also makes this the most efficient F-Type, with a 16 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the 340PS V6, together with CO2 emissions of 163g/km on the combined cycle.

The Ingenium engine contributes to an overall vehicle weight reduction of 52kg – most of which is over the front axle – key to the four-cylinder F-Type’s enhanced agility. Tuning of the chassis to complement the new engine delivers ‘even greater’ steering response, body control and ride comfort. Jaguar also says a ‘meticulously-tuned active exhaust’ is standard on the entry-level F-Type models, and despite the reduced engine size - the introduction of the four-cylinder does not mean that drivers lose out on ‘aural feedback or reward’.

“Most of the weight reduction is over the front axle, making the car beautifully balanced and really agile to drive – as you’d expect, the car is really at home on beautiful twisty roads. Couple that with a four-cylinder exhaust note and this particular F-Type has a character all of its own. I like to think of it as the feisty younger brother of the V6 and V8 models” said Erol Mustafa, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Sports Cars.

The 2018 Model Year Jaguar F-Type features visual enhancements to give the sports car a more 'powerful presence'. Redesigned bumpers, together with optional full LED headlights enhance the F-Type’s award-winning design and provide greater differentiation between each model in the range.

At the rear the four-cylinder model features a unique single tailpipe finisher to distinguish it from the twin central exhausts and quad outboard exhausts of the V6 and V8 models. Lightweight 18-inch wheels also identify the latest addition to the line-up, and help to minimise unsprung mass, contributing to the enhanced ride and handling.

The changes to the F-Type’s interior, including lightweight slimline seats, Touch Pro infotainment system and new chrome and aluminium trim finishers, 'heighten the driver-focused feel'. A sleek frameless rearview mirror adds another contemporary touch.

“Retaining the silhouette of F-Type across the model range is really important to us whether it’s the 200mph SVR or the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder. This is a true Jaguar sports car and a true F-Type – we didn’t want to dilute the design DNA. Even so, this car has its own unique character, and the new single tailpipe finisher exemplifies this” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

The new 2.0-litre Jaguar F-Type goes on sale from spring 2017, priced from £49,900.