Jaguar F-TYPE from under $140K

The long-awaited Jaguar F-TYPE will hit Australian showrooms in August with an offer sure to catch the attention of even rusted-on Porsche fans.

Starting from $139,000 the F-TYPE can't match the recently discounted Porsche Boxster on price alone, but the Jaguar in even its base form has a 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 that develops 250kW and can hit a top speed of 260km/h with the 0-100km/h time knocked over in 5.3 seconds.

For the price the F-TYPE buyer gets Jaguar's Performance Braking System with callipers finished in silver, sports-tuned suspension and exhaust, twin exhaust pipes mounted in the centre, 18-inch alloy wheels, contoured sports seats trimmed in a combination of leather and 'Suedecloth', a three-spoke leather-bound steering wheel with black shift paddles and 'Light Hex' aluminium decorative trim for the console.

Moving up to the F-Type S means an outlay of $171,400, but additionally comes with a 280kW version of the supercharged V6, for a top speed of 275km/h and 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds. The wheels of this variant are an inch bigger in diameter (19-inch alloys), and brake callipers are finished in red. Sports suspension at this level gains adaptive dynamics. Other standard features for the S-grade include a limited-slip differential, full leather trim for the seats, 'Ignis' shift paddles, 'Dark Hex' aluminium decorative trim for the console with an 'S' graphic, and configurable ambient lighting providing a colour selection.

At $202,300 is the flagship of the range, the F-TYPE V8 S, with supercharged 5.0-litre V8 producing 364kW for a 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h. The V8 S rides on 20-inch alloys and gains an Active Sports Exhaust with four tailpipes. An electronic active differential comes as standard with the V8, in lieu of the mechanical diff in the V6 S.

"Contemporary, evocative and progressive, the F-Type has been engineered to deliver pure dynamic driving reward and stunning performance," said Mark Eedle, Jaguar Australia Brand Manager.

When it was put to him that the F-TYPE is still priced higher than the Porsche Boxster that many consumers will see as the natural rival to the Jaguar, Eedle told motoring.com.au that Jaguar didn't see the F-TYPE as a direct competitor to the Boxster, instead perceiving it to be a vehicle that fills a "niche" between 911 and the Boxster. And he also offered his opinion that the F-TYPE is ahead on points by virtue of its "value equation", with free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km, whichever occurs first.

Jaguar F-TYPE pricing (plus on-road costs):

250kW supercharged V6 -- $139,000
280kW S supercharged V6 -- $171,400
364kW S supercharged V8 -- $202,300