► New F-type revealed in London

► Similar looks, more performance

► Order now, from £54k

You’re looking at the new Jaguar F-type – and it’s quite the thing, isn’t it? JLR’s new flagship sports car promises to be purer and more focused than before, and from the spec sheet to the pictures below, it looks like the Jaguar product team has delivered. Alongside more aggressive looks, the new F-type is more serious on paper too: expect 0-60mph in just 3.5 second for the R model. Keep reading for more details on the new Jaguar F-type.

Design

The new F-type isn’t all that different from its predecessor, but that’s not a bad thing. The rear of the car – which was arguably the previous model's best asset – is relatively unchanged, with just the rear light clusters getting a more modern, squared-off feel. It’s a modern classic after all, so why change it?

Best sports cars

However, it’s the face of the new sports car that gets the brunt of the facelift. JLR designers have leant heavily on the handsome, more refined look of some of the brand’s saloons, so the new F-type gets more horizontal eyes than before. Even with the sloping bonnet-mounted intakes and gaping grille, this new F-type looks both angrier and hunkered-down than the previous model.

In person it's more squat than before – but possibly less unique, too. There's something very-Mustang about that bonnet line, and something Audi R8 and i-Pace about those front lights and grille signature. It's certainly cutting-edge, but it's less unmistakably Jaguar now. During the reveal presentation, head of Jaguar design Julian Thompson praised the ageless looks of the previous F-type, which make us wonder why this model facelift was needed – and if it'll age as well as its predecessor.

Inside, however, the F-type is essentially the same – which isn’t a good thing – but we’ll get to that later.

Performance and engine line up..

The new F-type uses a similar engine line up to last time round. An ‘R’ model uses a 567bhp, 5.0-litre supercharged V8 to hit 60mph in just 3.5 seconds, and pushes out 516lb ft of torque on the way to a limited 186mph top speed.

The rest of the makes do with a 444bhp-rated version of the block. It’ll hit 60mph in just 4.4 seconds, delivers 428lb ft of torque and has a top speed of 177mph. Like last time, the V8 is joined by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged unit. That puts out 296bhp and will do the 0-60mph sprint in 5.4 seconds.

All models are V8 models are available with the Project 8-dervied Quick Shift along AWD or RWD – except for the R which comes with AWD only. All four-cylinder cars are only available with rear-wheel power. And because this is Jaguar, all models are available with active exhausts systems for that classic pneumonia-ridden bark F-types have become known for.

Two steps forward...

Keener F-type fans will notice the V6 is gone, with a detuned V8 in its place – and the manual option has also been culled for this facelift. Still, it's a case of two steps back and one very large step forwards: although there's no manual or V6 now, we do get a rear-wheel drive V8, which should focus the mind on a low-grip road.

Uprated springs, dampers and anti-roll bars mean the F-type should handle better than its predecessor.

As for the interior?

Unfortunately for tech fans, the F-type’s interior has been largely untouched design-wise. The specs are better though: there’s now a high-definition 12.3-inch display along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – as well as a choice of two Meridian sound systems. Still, it’s looking very long in the tooth when compared to some German competition.

And how much?

The first new F-types are available to order now from £54,060 in the UK, but that's not the one you'll want anyway. The highest end R model will cost you £97,280, while the rear-wheel drive V8 will cost £69,990. We've quoted Coupe prices so far, but as a rule, add a bit over £5000 for Convertible prices.