Denis Droppa
SOFT or hard top? Whether you prefer the hairstyle-adjusting and forehead-tanning experience of open air, or being cocooned in a fully enclosed cockpit, Jaguar’s F-Type now comes in both flavours.
After debuting as a soft-top convertible, Jaguar’s successor to the celebrated E-Type was more recently revealed as a coupé available with a hard roof made of either aluminium or glass.
It’s a lighter but more torsionally rigid car than the convertible – in fact it’s the most torsionally-rigid Jaguar to date – and what that means, along with its slightly stiffened suspension, is an even better driver’s car than the open-top version.
In the styling match-up the coupé with its sweeping roofline is arguably even more arresting than the soft-top.
All three coupé derivatives are made with an all-aluminium body, just like the convertibles. The flagship version is the F-Type R Coupé which gets a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine wielding mighty 404.5kW and 680Nm outputs, making for a claimed sprint of 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds and a governed top speed of 300km/h.
If the R’s power and R1.55-million pricetag are too extreme for you, Jaguar also offers two V6 versions, powered by Jaguar’s 3-litre supercharged petrol motor. The standard one offers 250kW and 450Nm, while the S model is boosted to produce 280kW and 460Nm – the two cars having respective claimed sea level 0-100km/h sprint times of 5.3 and 4.9 seconds.
The V6 S version, selling for R994 100, is the first to come our way for a full road test. The R can be an unruly and scary beast that requires higher-than-average skills to drive, and I find the S version’s a more balanced, easier-to-manage car that still delivers great driving thrills – at a saving of around 550 grand.
Power delivery from the supercharged V6 is immediate and linear. There’s no lag to contend with as this sportscar races off the line with great vigour.
The F-Type uses a torque converter automatic transmission instead of the dual-clutch variety popular in many sportscars today. In its normal setting this eight-speeder has longer-than-ideal pauses during kickdown to lower gears, but when switched to Sport mode it has suitably rapid-fire shifts.
A three-mode toggle switch changes throttle and gearshift responses to give the car a trio of very distinct driving personalities. The standard setting balances sport with economy, the slippery conditions mode makes the car feel more docile, while the race setting (aptly marked with a chequered flag) turns this 275km/h Jag into a ball of fury that wants to be unleashed onto the nearest racetrack.
There’s another personality-shifting button which affects the exhaust. The car’s default drone is suitably throaty, without becoming aurally intrusive over a longer journey, but press that button and the exhaust flaps open to liberate a hair-raising holler that’s most rousing.
In off-the-line acceleration the F-Type S came close to Jaguar’s sea-level claims by clocking a 5.1 second 0-100km/h time and a 13.4 sec quarter-mile at our Gauteng test facility – very brisk in anyone’s language. The times were identical to the Porsche Cayman S we tested at the same venue, the Porsche being less powerful but also 200kg lighter and equipped with optional launch control.
The test car averaged 12.6 litres per 100km, more or less what you’d expect for the performance on offer.
A hidden rear spoiler automatically rises at speed to improve the F-Type’s downforce, and contributes to making this Jaguar a very effective weapon through twisty roads. A low centre of gravity and firm double wishbone suspension ensures it’s a very balanced car in quick direction changes. My only niggle is with the hydraulically-assisted steering which, despite having the fastest ratio ever used in a Jaguar, feels a little lighter than I’d expect from a sportscar.
Stability control keeps it all neat and tidy but if you feel the need to light up the rear tyres, it can be switched off. Lurid tail slides are easy to achieve in this powerful rear-wheel-drive car but they’re quite controllable, without the snap-oversteer that’ll see you involuntarily heading backwards into the racetrack’s kitty litter.
The ride’s quite firm and so are the seats, which impact on the F-Type’s role as a comfortable daily commuter, though you get used to them both after a while. The low ground clearance requires parkades and steep driveway entrances to be tackled with extra care though, as the front lip is easily scraped.
The F-Type convertible has been much maligned for its tiny 200 litre boot, but in the coupé the cargo bay’s been more than doubled to 407 litres, which is reportedly large enough for two golf bags if you’re into that sort of thing. The tailgate is also available with optional power-assisted opening.
The car’s athletic shape is matched by an equally striking interior with sports seats, and leather and aluminium surfaces giving it all a high-class feel. With theatrical flair the flush-fitted doorhandles pop out at the press of a button so you can open the car, while air vents glide out of hidden nooks on top of the dash when you start the engine. Also, the start button flashes red in the rhythm of a beating heart, awaiting your press.
VERDICT
Deciding between a convertible or coupé is a subjective and personal choice, but the fixed-roof F-Type is objectively a slightly better driver’s car due to its added torsional rigidity. It’s priced slightly lower than the soft-top too.
Unrepentant power-hounds with big budgets will undoubtedly choose the big hitting F-Type R, but the V6 S is a whole lot of fast-moving, road-hugging, grin-inducing car for the money.
lJaguar offers a free advanced driving course voucher with the sale of every every new car sold in South Africa. For more information, or to book outside of the free deal at your cost, call Jaguar Experience Kyalami on 011-465-1883, or Jaguar Experience Gerotek, KZN and Cape Town on 012-371-2027.
Prices include a five-year/100 000km maintenance plan and roadside assistance.