It’s a surreal sight: a mint-condition
48-year-old Jaguar-Type, an icon of 1960s motoring, looming large in the side
mirror of the car charged with rekindling the spirit of that most famous of
XK-series Jags. Reflected behind the F-Type Coupe, a vintage nose, widely
considered one of the most beautiful ever built, trails the hardtop version of
a modern Jaguar already revelling in numerous design awards.
Photoshoot completed and with the two cars
parked alongside one another, what’s immediately obvious is just how much brawn
has been designed into the modern F-Type’s stance when compared with the
elegant lines of the E-Type (even in 2+2 configuration as featured here).
The
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe swaps a compliant ride for great body control
What’s less obvious is why Jaguar chose to
launch the F-Type Roadster ahead of the Coupe. Like the E, the F-Type would
have been designed as a Coupe first, and then reworked into a soft top -
perhaps it was with an eye on the convertible-loving US market where Jag will
be aiming to get most of its sales.
Whatever the reason, the Jaguar now has an
F-Type that is 80% stiffer than its Roadster sibling. It's a staggering figure,
especially given that a lack of rigidity has never been a criticism levelled at
the Roadster (tested in October 2013). Exploiting this newfound stiffness,
Jaguar has not only been able to add stiffer damper ratings to the Coupe (by
4.3% up front and 3.7% at the rear) for improved turn-in and precision, but
also tum up the wick on the most powerful F-Type to date.
Headlights
are auto-levelling bi-xenons as standard. They sport LED running light strips
around their outer edges
Featuring the same supercharged 5.0-litre
V8 engine found in the top-of-the-range Roadster, the new R Coupe nevertheless
offers 41 kW more power (now 405 kW) and 55 Nm of additional torque over its
ragtop sibling. Given that our closing statement on the V8 S Roadster's road
test was that it represented the "most exciting, seat-of-your-pants
driving experience available", the prospect of additional performance,
even with increased dynamic ability, could be greeted with as much trepidation
as excitement.
If there's one interior design element that
sets the character of the F-Type and its spiritual ancestor apart, it's the
steering wheel. Evolved ergonomics and build quality aside, the difference in
feel between the ornate wooden-rim E-Type wheel and the chunky leather-bound
example found in the F-Type indicates a deliberate move away from Simon and
Garfunkel-soundtracked countryside cruises towards an altogether sportier
persuasion. Indeed, while both cars feature ignition starter buttons, it's the
brash bark from the cold-starting R Coupe's quad tailpipes that most dearly
banish any lingering memories of sonorous '60s inline sixes.
The
R's supercharged 5.0-litre V8 is a muscular, endearing powerplant
The combination of wide-opening doors and a
low-slung driving position can make for slightly awkward entry into the Coupe
but, once seated, comfort levels for both occupants are impressive, especially
in terms of leg- and headroom. Jaguar claims 407 dm3 worth of luggage space
below the Coupe's electrically operated tailgate, although it's worth
remembering this is without the standard space-saver spare wheel bolted in
place. With it in position, we measured 128 dm3.
Despite the inclusion of the spare wheel
and 153 kg more than the claimed mass figure, we nevertheless bettered Jaguar's
zero-to-100 km/h sprint time, managing a best run of 4.12 seconds (Jaguar
claims 4.2). The standard launch-control setting on the eight-speed automatic
transmission limits wheelspin for optimal traction off the line - a sensation
not to be taken for granted in the R Coupe.
