A Jaguar F-Type review rarely involves spreadsheets, yet Chris Burford’s 5.0 V8 automatic makes a strong case for them. Timing is everything in UK road tax, and his car landed on the right side of a policy shift.
Jaguar F-Type review Beats CO2 Penalties
On paper, the Jaguar F-Type emits up to 269g/km of CO2. Had it been registered before April 2017, that figure would have triggered £790 per year. Instead, the 2018 registration arrived roughly twelve months after the CO2 system was replaced. Enthusiasts who admire high-cylinder engineering, like the ones in our VW W10 engine feature, will appreciate the irony.
Under the current regime, a flat standard rate applies to all new cars. For this Jaguar F-Type review subject, the expensive car supplement on cars above £40,000 expired two years ago. Still, the result is a remarkably modest annual bill, now sitting at £200.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 5.0L Supercharged V8 |
| 🐎Power Output | 542 HP (550 PS) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 680 Nm (502 lb-ft) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 3.6s |
| 🚀Top Speed | 186 mph (299 km/h) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 8-Speed Automatic / RWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | £90,000 (est.) |
Ultimately, this Jaguar F-Type review is a lesson in regulatory timing. Future buyers will not enjoy the same bargain, because tightening emissions rules and the shift toward electrified taxation are a clear regulatory headwind. Jaguar’s engineering, detailed on the official Jaguar website, still delivers a 542 horsepower V8 with a character few rivals can match. Even so, the smartest move in this story was the calendar, not the cylinder count.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
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