Called one of the 100 most beautiful cars in the world, the E-Type’s
grace was matched by the pace of its 3.8-liter inline six with 265
horsepower. Later it received a V-12. But when the last version of the
bullet-shaped roadster once called “the greatest crumpet-catcher known
to man” was laid to rest in 1975 that was the last great Jaguar sports
cars.
The new F-TYPE comes in supercharged 3-liter V-6 versions with 340 or
380 horsepower, and the 495 horsepower 5-liter supercharged V-8. Ours
was the middle model, aimed right at the 350-horsepower Porsche 911
Cabriolet.
Our 2,700-mile-old roadster emitted a rising snarl as it
accelerated toward 60-mph in 4.3 seconds in full Dynamic transmission
setting to make shifts more aggressive with higher shift points. Launch
control is simplicity – left-foot brake while nailing the throttle, and
when the trip computer screen flashes “Dynamic Launch,” releases brakes
and go! That gave us a bit of controlled wheelspin at launch to 60 mph
in 4 seconds as we paddle-shifted at 6,000 rpm, and 100-mph in 12
seconds. In “Sport,” the throttle is blipped automatically to
match engine revs for very rapid downshifts. In a curve, the
transmission holds it so we were in the right gear for the exit.
As far as not having a twin-clutch gearbox like the Porsche’s PDK, we
didn’t mind. Paddle shift the next gear in “Sport,” and it was clean and
quick with an exhaust “whoomp!” as the throttle backed off a bit for
the next gear, followed by a pop-pop exhaust overrun. This may be the
most addictive and feral exhaust note this side of a Ferrari, aided by
Active Exhaust that opens bypass valves in the rear of the exhaust under
hard acceleration.
I shut it down in my neighborhood since it was a bit much. Fuel mileage
calculated out to 15 mpg after filling up on premium. The engine’s
Stop/Start system did turn off the V-6 at stoplights and fire it back up
the second I lifted off the brake pedal.
There’s a forged aluminum double wishbone suspension up front and
multilink in back with a sports suspension system and adaptive damping
that assesses body motion, roll and pitch rates 100 times per second and
adjusts accordingly. The Dynamic option, a first for a Jaguar, lets the
driver select the firmest steering feel weight and suspension as well
as the sharpest throttle response.
The result was a firm suspension in
normal, and a really firm setup in Dynamic. We felt every pavement
break, but it wasn’t brutal, even at full firm. The well-designed
convertible body offered no squeaks/flexing other than some driver’s
seat leather creaking.
The payoff was in any turn. Coupled with the sticky Pirellis, the F-TYPE
just carved its way through with a precise steering feel. Power out of a
turn and the rear Pirellis stayed planted with no traction control.
Push harder into a turn and there was some understeer, but a bit of
precise throttle could even it out. The Jag stayed admirably flat in
curves as well, a lot of fun to toss around. Large 15-inch
front/12.8-inch rear discs with big red-painted calipers had a great
initial bite and precise pedal feel as well as no fade after hard
repeated use – great dancing shoes for this baby Jag to step out with.
Not just another pretty face! Here is a snarling cat’s face on its
grille and a leaping cat on its streamlined tail, with lightweight
aluminum body above and architecture underneath. And while the face may
have a bit of current XJ sedan, there are some E-Type cues.
The wide mouth grille with gloss black bumper dead center hints at the
chrome bar on the E-Type snout. Slim tapered headlights also echo the
classic, but with white LED accents down each side. Underneath, twin
vertical vents, then a slim lower center air intake over an air dam with
small side winglets. A classic slim power dome runs up the bonnet’s
centerline, a true clamshell with vents that reveal “SUPERCHARGED”
legend on the engine cover.
Front fenders’ flared edges neatly frame massive Pirelli P-Zero
P255/35ZR20-inch radials on carbon fiber blade-accented gray alloy
five-spoke wheels. Many people remarked on the highly visible huge disc
brakes. The rear wheels are wider P295/30ZR20-inchers. F-TYPES powered
by the V-6 get the center exhausts, while the R’s V-8 gets quad tips.
The F-Type’s door handles are flush. But tap the button and they fold
out as side mirrors unfurl. Tap the rubberized copper Start/Stop button
with a heartbeat pulsing red light inside and the engine barks to life.
The heavily bolstered high-back bucket seats done in soft dove gray
leather proved to be very comfortable and supportive with lots of
door-mounted buttons for the 14-way power adjustments.
Contrasting stitched gray leather lines a J-shaped accent that runs from
top of the dash to console base. A white-on-black 180-mph speedometer
and 8,000-rpm tach, the latter with a 6,800-rpm redline, face the
driver. In between, a color LCD screen with gas and temperature gauge,
trip computer, radio, time, outside temperature and digital speedometer
as well as gearshift position. A thick leather-clad flat-bottom steering
wheel with power tilt and
telescope had the usual buttons for stereo, telephone, cruise and trip computer – but oddly
no voice command for stereo and navigation. Polished alloy pedals live in the foot well,
where I would have loved another inch of legroom.
The central LCD touchscreen has navigation, stereo/video player, phone,
parking sensors and backup camera with cross-traffic detection, and
phone. That screen also hosts the Configurable Dynamics program that
allows the driver to set shift mode, engine and throttle response,
steering feel and suspension to normal or dynamic. The screen offers a
lap timer, throttle/brake performance and a g-force meter.
Don’t look for a manual gearbox – that’s a BMW-style electronic toggle
with eight forward speeds, reverse, and sport setting. There’s a button
for active exhaust, an “ECO” switch to engage engine start/stop for gas
savings, and another to pop up the spoiler.
Unfortunately we picked up a couple of electrical gremlins – the
navigation screen refused to light up twice and the driver’s window
would close, and then open. The power top folds flat in 12 seconds up to
30-mph and is beautifully finished inside. We found the seating
position with door tops at shoulder height a bit low. But thanks to the
laid-back windshield and mesh wind-blocker clipped between the rear roll
bars, lots of typical wind noise at 70-mph was blocked out.
A base 340 horsepower Jaguar F-TYPE starts at $69,000, while the 495
horsepower R version starts at $92,000. Our mid-spec S started at
$81,000 with standard leather, active exhaust, bigger brakes, 380-watt
Meridian stereo, navigation and alarm. Options including Performance
Pack S with the high-back performance seats, configurable Dynamic mode,
bigger brakes with red calipers, active exhaust and flat-bottom steering
wheel brought the total MSRP to $100,538.
This cat has the looks, sound, power and handling to be a player in its
exclusive field. If the Porsche is a better dancer, the Jag is the
better-looking partner!
