Introduction
It appears crazy to think Jaguar’s F-Type has been on the road for nigh-on 5 years now; initially get going in soft-top ‘roadster’ form, then coupe shortly after. We principal sampled the F-type 2 years ago in roadster form, but have consequently far missed the opportunity to test out the fixed roof version. Until now that is – with an ‘Ultra Blue’ coupe communistic in our care for a week. Team MenStyleFashion were off to experience, The Jaguar Definitive Track experience.
Exterior
First things first; diminishes discuss the F-Type’s looks. Surprisingly, this proved to be a risky task – how do you expand on ‘it looks fantastic’. The simple truth is, Jaguar be experiencing absolutely nailed the appearance of the F-Type – the roadster was a looker, but the coupe make a notes it up to the next level.
Beyond the body shape, there’s numerous specifies to further entice the eye. The door handles sit flush, only fizzy drinking out either by a button press on the key or a small button on the handle itself. The hilts that are duly presented contain the Jaguar logo embossed on the top openly and look ever so neat. It’s a small detail, but it adds to the outside sleekness, as well as building the ‘experience’ of getting into the F-Type.
There’s also a insignificant spoiler/air brake along the rear lip, which pops up either under heavy braking or speeds above 70mph. Sat centrally below that, there’s a unfettered, single exit exhaust pipe. This is a unique best to the engine spec’d on this model (more on this later), with most standards having twin exit pipes flanking the rear end.
Inexorably, we have to talk about the wheels – spec’d up from the 18” lamppost to the 19” ‘Style 7013’ wheels, they’re a real eyesight to behold. They’re a £1050 option, but on the F-Type they look proportionally catch sight of on. 20” Wheels are an optional extra too, should 19’s not be adequately for you…
Interior
Step/stoop (this is a low car) into the F-Type for the maiden time, and it’s immediately obvious that this is a very well-bred place to sit. The seats drop nice and low, hunkering you down into the cockpit. They’re sustaining in all the right place too, really holding you in – ‘fit like a glove’ arises to mind. Some may find them a tad on the firm side, but uniform with after lengthy drives, aches and pains failed to set in.
The fit and annihilate is generally very good, although a couple of areas of the core (particularly up high) feel cheaper than you’d like on a £50,000+ car, job out disappointing it down slightly. Whilst we’re on the negatives, the infotainment system also brook a bit dated, especially compared to rivals in this class. Elementary features such as the navigation and phone pairing are simple and mild to use, but more advanced features and fancy graphics are in short satisfy.
The steering wheel controls are straight out of a Range Rover, which means they suffer nice to the touch, if a little cumbersome; they lack the strictness and tactility you’d expect from a sports car such as this. The suggestion wheel does have a trick up its sleeve however, as it seamlessly collects/lowers itself to aid access to and from the car – nice!
The standard ‘Meridian’ ring system came fitted to the car on test, with impressive evolves. 10 speakers are neatly dotted around the cabin, and they do a tremendous job of making the sound-stage feel very open. They play a joke on some decent punch too, although crank it up too hard and it sounds a little off-beat, with cabin rattle and distortion creeping in. Bring ons that require this sort of volume are rather rare, but if it’s a be vexed Jaguar have you covered; an upgrade which doubles the routine’s power and adds additional speakers can be had for £990.
Other neat chips include heated front and rear screens, heated fundaments and a heated steering wheel – frosty morning simply don’t get up b endure a chance! The panoramic glass roof also comes well recommended, making the cabin feel incredibly airy and unclinched – night driving is a real spectacle. On the flip side, the £470 powered tailgate have all the hallmarked a little OTT, especially as the boot hatch is so small on the F-Type.
The Machine
Most MSF car reviews touch on a vehicles engine, but few vehicles appliances are so divisive that they demand their own section. This F-Type’s is. The F-Type has typically been at ones fingertips with a choice of two engines; a V6 or V8, both supercharged, both identical loud, both very dramatic. Power isn’t in short providing either, as depending on configuration they chuck out between 340 and 575hp.
The F-Type on investigation came fitted with a turbo-charged in-line 4 however, producing 300hp. On maidenly horsepower then, not a million miles short of the 340hp fabricated by the base spec V6; it’ll still shift the F-Type to 60 in 5.4 right hands. However, there’s one problem – it sounds like an inline 4. It’s perplexing to explain in words, but when you have a car that looks as beautiful as the F-Type, it needs to sound the part too, and the 4-cylinder just can’t get there.
In fairness, Jaguar rate credit, for this is one of the best sounding 4-cylinders I’ve heard, but it unprejudiced pales in comparison to the drama, excitement & character offered by the V6 and V8. As someone put it to me when I took them out in the F-Type; you’re get onto a £20k hot hatch engine with a very fancy frock…
On The Procedure
Ignoring the aural experience, how does the rest of the car perform on the unqualified road? Well, the good news it’s as nice to drive as it is to look at: The F-Type chassis is an complete gem. The connection between all four wheels and the driver is fantastic, with perceptions often diluted or lost on other cars easy to sensible of and enjoy.
You can really work the F-Type, and because the engine hasn’t got outrageous amounts of power you won’t end up going at silly speeds either (so it’s not all bad for the 4-cylinder). It can at bottom be leaned on, with the back end coming alive as you exit corners. The controls hold their own too, stopping the F-Type with great efficacy & haste when required.
I’m sure a large part of this fun-factor is thanks to the all-aluminium body, which helps to tee the F-type up at just concluded 1500kgs. This does swell somewhat with the larger apparatus, so it would be interesting to see how this affects the dynamics.
When it’s not being driven enthusiastically, the F-Type is compliant and smooth-shaven, just as you’d expect from a modern Jaguar. Road uproar is kept under control, the blind-spot monitoring system (possess of a £1085 ‘Drive pack’) works fantastically and frontward visibility is solicitous. The only gripes whilst on the road were with the gearbox and food economy; Down-changes in Automatic mode were occasionally a wee sluggish and we’d have hoped for more than 28mpg on a long run from the ‘down-sized’ motor…
Wrapping Up
As a driving experience, the F-Type is right up there with the tucker I’ve driven. The chassis is great, the driving position is spot on and the true of feel and control is fantastic; it’s a real joy to drive. The F-Type doesn’t texture like it was designed purely based on numbers – it was developed to press a soul, to have character and to be an enjoyable car to drive, a major extra in my book.
Sadly, as much as I tried, I just couldn’t get my govern around the choice of engine. My initial rational was that stimulate economy would be fantastic, but it was far from it – we got similar figures from the 450hp V6 RS5. All it does is tip off a exaggerate a car which is verging on greatness into something which feels a but incomplete. The looks and driving experience are there, it just stresses the dramatic soundtrack to complete things and elevate the F-Type Coupe to the highest be honest. With any luck, we’ll be able to get a taste of the V6 or V8 F-Type pie in the next few months and relate back…
Thank you to Jaguar UK for supplying our review car.
