The 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE 400 Sport is a great everyday vehicle to own

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: NAUMAN FAROOQ
The 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE 400 Sport is a nice car for a cruise around town. With comfortable seating and a limited time price point, now is the time to invest in such a vehicle.

The Jaguar F-TYPE has been around for a few years now and over this time, many iterations of this model has hit the market. Now there is a new one for 2018.

It's called the 400 Sport and it's based on the architecture of the F-TYPE V6 S, but offers more.

As the name suggests, it starts out with more power. Under the hood is the same supercharged 3.0 litres motor found in the V6S model, but in the 400 Sport, it is tweaked to produce 400 horsepower and 339 pounds per foot of torque.

The torque number is the same between the V6 S and the 400 Sport, but the latter gets an extra 20 horsepower. Couple that with a weight savings of about 80 kilograms (1,594 kilograms total curb weight) the 400 Sport is a bit quicker off the line too, clocking a zero-to-100 kilometres per hour time of 4.9 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than a V6 S.

Top speed has not been altered, both models are electronically limited to 275 km/h, which is more than fast enough for most of us. However, the F-TYPE 400 Sport gets “Super Performance” brakes, so it'll stop faster than its siblings, which is always a plus.

So, the performance has improved, but only marginally. The same can be said about the handling, too, the F-TYPE 400 Sport seems a bit sharper than the F-Type models I've tried in the past, but the improvements are too minimal to be noticed on the road and the suspension set up would still be a little too soft for hardcore track use.

On back roads, the F-TYPE 400 Sport is good fun and thanks to allwheel drive - standard on the 400 Sport, optional on other V6 S powered F-TYPE models, you can push its handling limits with a bit more confidence.

As with other F-TYPE models, it sounds just wonderful and its eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox provides clean and quick shifts, although it is not a match for some of the dual-clutch gearboxes currently offered by some of its competitors.

Here's the thing, if you're looking for the ultimate time attack machine, no F-TYPE will be the ideal tool, although, they would all cope quite well.

If you're looking for a sports car for your weekend getaways, or even daily use, it is really good and the 400 Sport model might just be the best of the bunch.

I say that because, I think it looks a bit nicer than any other F-TYPE model currently on sale.

I love its dark wheels, combined with dark accents to cover all the chrome bits, inside and out. All 2018 F-TYPE models get new headlights and bumpers, but the 400 Sport has a unique chin spoiler, which makes it look even better.

Step inside and there is yellow stitching on black leather seats and dashboard, which looks wonderful. The seats deserve a special mention, because they are lighter than regular F-TYPE chairs. Jaguar calls them, “Slimline Seats” and they save 7.3 kilograms of weight. While they don't offer adjustable side bolsters, they proved to still be very comfortable, plus they offered heating and cooling function, which is always nice to have.

All the 400 Sport models get the improved infotainment system called, InControl Touch Pro, offered by Jaguar, although it is still a touch screen system, so it is not easy to use while you're driving.

Most of the time, while I was driving, I'd just turn off all the distractions and drive the car for what it is. I can honestly say, it is fantastic.

I really enjoyed my time with the 400 Sport and while it is not the fastest F-TYPE I have ever driven, I think it might just be the best balanced version ever offered.

I have often said, that the supercharged V8 models seem to have way too much power for their own good, the chassis and suspension seem to get overwhelmed with 575 horsepower, as in the SVR model, so the 400 horsepower of the 400 Sport model feels just about right.

If you think that the F-TYPE 400 Sport is the right car for you, and you really should, you better hurry, as this is a one-year special model. Prices start at $97,500. It is available as a coupe or a convertible. Click on the thumbnails below to view a larger version of each image.
The 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE 400 Sport is a great everyday vehicle to own photos
The 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE 400 Sport is a great everyday vehicle to own photos