Jaguar is in the midst of a rapid rollout of both new products and powertrains. Now, it’s increasing the mix of standard equipment on its F-Type model, while also stretching the sports car’s warranty in a bid to boost sales.
After years of struggle, Jaguar is hoping it can build the same sort of momentum as its British sibling, the Land Rover brand, especially in the U.S. market.
“The Jaguar F-TYPE in three short years has become the heart and soul of the modern Jaguar brand,” said Rob Filipovic, product planning chief for Jaguar Land Rover North America.
(Jaguar offers a first look at the next-generation XF. Click Here to check it out.)
While sports car sales are generally modest, the F-Type immediately became one of Jaguar’s most important product lines in decades. The spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type, it has helped rebuild the brand’s reputation for building striking and sporty models. But Jaguar has also been aided by it recent improvement in quality and reliability.
The maker was the top-ranked brand in the 2015 J.D. Power Customer Service Index released this month, while also scoring among the top three brands in Power’s most recent Initial Quality Study and Sales Satisfaction Index. Jaguar officials are hoping that will help overcome the image of quality problems long an unwanted part of the brand’s reputation.
(Big surprises in the latest JD Power Customer Service Index. Click Here for the full story.)
But they’re also backing that up by boosting the warranty on the 2016 F-Type – while also adding scheduled maintenance – for five years or 60,000 miles. That, the maker claims, is the longest of any sports car on the market.
The 2016 version of the F-Type also will see the addition of at least $3,550 in standard equipment and features, with the figure for the high-performance F-Type R an added $11,850.
That includes such niceties as the 770-watt Meridian audio system, Jaguar Smart Key keyless entry, and 14-way power seats. Coupe models also will now come with a standard panoramic roof. S models will get a flat-bottom racing-style wheel and Configurable Dynamic Mode, and R Coupe models will get a power liftgate.
The 2016 F-Type line-up will also be offered with several new optional features, including a 6-speed ZF gearbox, and an all-wheel-drive system. AWD becomes standard on the 550-horsepower R models.
The 2016 F-Type also gets Jaguar’s new InControl system. The technology allows an owner to access a variety of smartphone apps directly through the car’s touchscreen or steering wheel controls. It also includes both a safety and security system that can summon help automatically in an emergency. And it can be used to remotely start the vehicle, set its climate control system and operate its locks.
Jaguar sold 7,085 F-Types in the U.S. last year, an 83% increase, with sales surging after the addition of the Coupe model.
(Click Here for the review of the all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport.)
