Jaguar F-Type R could get 450kW V8
The man responsible for designing the Jaguar F-Type says the all-new two-seater sports car's V8 engine could be tuned to produce up to 450kW of power for a high-performance 'R' variant.
At an exclusive F-Type preview event on the eve of the Paris Motor Show, Jaguar director of design Ian Callum told CarAdvice it's possible get 600hp (447kW) from the brand's supercharged 5.0-litre V8.
“We can get more out of that engine, possibly up to 600bhp," Callum said.
The range-topping Jaguar F-Type V8 S produces 364kW of power and 625Nm of torque, but Callum is confident the engine can be tuned to deliver substantially more power for a more focused F-Type R variant.
The standard F-Type V8 S is already quick; Jaguar claims 4.3 seconds for the 0-100km sprint, although the additional power could potentially propel the F-Type R into the sub-4.0-second club.
When pressed about the smaller displacement 3.0-litre supercharged V6 in the Jaguar F-Type S, Callum said this engine could also be tuned to generate more power than its current state of 280kW/460Nm.
Other Jaguar executives said the company is 100 per cent committed to a racing program for the F-Type, but remained tight-lipped on further details.
Read more: Jaguar F-Type: the compete guide