It wasn't too long ago that Jaguar launched an all-new sports car. Dubbed the F-Type, the two-seat roadster was positioned as the spiritual successor to the much loved and highly regarded E-Type from the 1960s and 1970s.
Hell, the E-Type was so famous in its day that it even had a couple cameo appearances on AMC's television show, Mad Men. It seems that lightning has struck twice for the leaping cat. That's because I'd argue that the all-new F-Type has become the company's most well known model in less than two year's time. In fact, at year-end 2014, the F-Type made up 26 percent of Jaguar’s sales.
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
**Read Agent00R's FIRST impression of the Jaguar F-Type HERE!
Considering it was meant to be a low volume sports car, that's a nice feather in the cap for the British marque.
As the ground swell of excitement has continued to increase, the company has wisely decided to broaden its appeal to potential buyers. Since the debut of the F, there's been the introduction of the Project 7, which is a more hardcore version of the F-Type that serves as a throwback to the company's heritage, and most recently Jaguar announced that buyers will be able to specify their vehicles with a manual transmission and all-wheel drive should they desire.
Personally, I find the Project 7 to be automotive pornography and it will be interesting to see the take rate on the manual and AWD versions. In addition, I am curious to see if the AWD offering improves performance even with its weight penalty a la the Porsche 911.
Now, let's get down to brass tacks: the F-Type R Coupe.
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
Equipped with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that produces 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque, there's no arguing with this vehicle's grunt. Zero to 60 mph happens in a scant 4.0 seconds. Mated to this impressive powerplant is an even more staggering eight-speed automatic transmission that feels nearly as good as the more popular dual-clutch gearboxes found in today's other high-performance vehicles.
But I think if you're focusing purely on speed, you're probably missing out on the point of the F-Type. That's because there are faster sports cars for less money out there. The Jaguar is actually a statement piece that evokes a tremendous amount of style and serves as a symbol that its driver thinks outside of the box. Not to mention, it has a lot of personality.
There are plenty of all-new Chevrolet Corvettes and all-new Porsche 911s out there, but how many Jaguar F-Types do you see? Exactly.
Case in point: If you make a stop at your local gas station to give the car a splash of fuel, don't be surprised to hold court for a couple of curious onlookers. In a BMW M4 or 911 people just don't care.
As I was photographing the R Coupe one early Sunday morning on the Hudson River waterfront, it hit me. This car doesn't have a bad angle on it. Every element from the front grille to the side skirts to the sleek LED rear taillights is proportioned just right. From a design perspective, everything just works. Personally, I love the way this car looks from the back. With its shapely, bulging hips akin to Marilyn Monroe and quad-tipped exhaust tips slightly angled upwards, it reminds me of a U.S. NAVY destroyer with its guns ready to fire.
I wish I could say the same for its interior. That is a bit of a different story. Here’s the problem: its interior is a mash up of soft, luxurious leather and, frankly, cheap bits. The center console is a bit tragic as it looks more home in an economy car, and the sound system is probably one of the worst I've heard in a modern automobile.
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
The good news is that the bad points are made up by positive ones. The seats are extremely supportive in all the right places and the flat-bottomed, three-spoke steering wheel is a nice touch. It's an intimate cabin, no doubt, but it isn't claustrophobic by any means.
I think what you really want to hear about with a vehicle of this caliber though is how it drives. In this department, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Speed is obviously not a problem for the F-Type R Coupe. What will take getting used to is putting down the power from a launch while keeping as much traction as possible. With all of the twist being sent to its rear wheels in my test car, this is not like many of today's all-wheel drive sports cars — you actually need to know what you're doing. This is how I like it and makes the driving experience MUCH more fun.
That's because the leaping cat will shimmy its hips and get loose on you if you're too eager with the go pedal. When you get it right though, the F-Type is a blast.
At speed and pushing it hard from corner to corner you will feel a touch of body lean and I am fine with that. It's not meant to be as precise as a Porsche. Working the vehicle on windy roads you'll find the steering to be a bit on the lighter side, even when dialed up in Sport mode. This is welcome as far too many automakers have tuned their sports cars steering to feel overly heavy and artificial.
What I find particularly well done is the suspension. Although it's on the stiff side, it is tuned so that when you're in the turns you feel confident to dial in more power. The traction is there. Find yourself in a sweeper and you'll feel like you can just keep adding the power forever without hesitation or that you'll stuff it.
That's the thing though. Find yourself in a city center and this sporting suspension won't be as kind to you as it was on a windy country road. It can be a little jarring and uncomfortable, especially when paired up with a set of 20-inch wheels and tires. If I had to compare it to another vehicle, I'd actually say it felt quite American and almost Corvette-like.
Sort of analogous to Kate Moss' famous quote "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels," I'd say that "nothing drives as good as a stiff suspension feels." You'll pay for it now and then but the sacrifice is worth it in my opinion.
This brings me back to the vibe of the F-Type. When you're sitting behind that long hood with a pulsating V8 under the hood, it's tough to think it can get better. Well, it can. That's because all you need to do is hit the exhaust button on the center console. After that, the F is more than happy to give you a 21-gun salute via its exhaust. Literally, every time you let off the throttle you will hear pops and bangs on the overrun. It's just another cool thing that lets the whole neighborhood know you've arrived.
To me, that's the exact word to summarize the Jaguar experience: cool.
If this were high school, the Chevrolet Corvette would be a muscle-bound jock, the Porsche 911 a precision-focused geek, the Mercedes-Benz SL a prep, and the Jaguar F-Type would be the cool new kid on the block that has captured everyone's interest.
It's a unique car for a unique buyer. This is a vehicle meant to stand out from the crowd of your typical competition. You just have to figure out your priorities and if it's a "fit."
The Good:
- It's hard to say that the F-Type R Coupe's design has a fault — it's just so easy on the eyes from ALL angles
- Power! There's plenty of it to go around, especially in the R flavor
- This Brit has plenty of personality that makes it much more interesting than its competition — give me the pops and bangs, and the shimmying hips ANY day of the week
The Bad:
- Its interior is a mixed bag of luxurious leather and bad plastics
- The sound system is not one for audiophiles
- While its suspension is welcome for spirited driving, there is no way to really keep it in check during city driving — feels "American" in urban environments
The Lowdown:
The Jaguar F-Type has become the object of affection for many with good reason. It is a damn fine looking vehicle with oodles of power. Jaguar has only made a good thing better with the addition of a manual transmission and all-wheel drive variant(s). If you're looking for pure speed or precision, this is not the sports car for you. If you're looking for style, and a more old-school driving experience that will have you laughing, then you should definitely consider the F-Type Coupe.
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
