Jaguar F-Type. Damn.

[Solo]

If it's a F-Type , why does it say S on the front picture ? :S

Its a spec level. At launch there will be three available, all of which are supercharged:
F-Type (V6, 3.0L, 336bhp, £58500)
S (V6, 375bhp, £67500)
V8 S (V8, 488bhp, £79950)

I'm not sure of the displacements of the two S spec cars.

 

[Mac K]

I'm thinking a nice pearl white exterior with a red interior and black wheels

 

[Tornado]

I'm most impressed that they managed to bring those taillights to production. I was almost certain that they were going to wimp out on those.

 

[RocZX]

There already is a thread on the F-Type https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=222064

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Oh, I searched F-type and nothing really showed up...

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I've merged it with McLaren's original thread; hope he doesn't mind, but I think it's very interesting to see the evolution (or lack thereof, really) from concept to production. I suppose Jag remembers the XF debacle.

Still looks great. Still a bit fat for a "thoroughbred sports car".

 

[McLaren]

Have to say, I think it looks a complete mess.. I seem to remember the concept looking alright, but this... not so much.

This looks pretty much like the concept though.

The only differences are small design changes in the lower bumpers, side skirts, & no chrome within' the grille.


The only thing that baffles me is why they decided it would be a convertible-only car. I think it looked miles better as a coupe.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Evo's in-depth article on it a few issues ago was pretty adamant that a coupe will be coming, it's only a matter of time. Considering how much of a roll Jag's on lately, I don't think they'd cut themselves off from a market that wouldn't mind the most-focused Jaguar possible.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Is it me or does the front remind you of an SLS?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Not a lot, but I see where you're coming from. For me, the gills (what else do you call them?) are very unique looking, and fairly concepty. While not an incredibly elegant or beautiful design piece, they certainly make the car more distinctive and give it it's own character, and work well with the concepty feel of the rest of the styling. Would I buy one based on looks? Maybe. Would I buy one based on performance (assuming it's fun to drive), looks, and being a Jag? You bet.

 

[AerodyManiac]

Is there a fixed-top version of this? I have a preference towards coupes, and the only cabriolet I really liked with its roof down is the California.

I like the C-X16 more.
(And where has the 'boost' button gone?)

 

[Dan_]

The only thing that baffles me is why they decided it would be a convertible-only car. I think it looked miles better as a coupe.

Agree, the back end was reminiscent of the E-type and the sloping roofline made the car look less back heavy. The convertible looks pretty good, but falls short of the coupé.

 

[Liquid]

The front of that F-Type has a huuuuuuuuuuge, gaping mouth.

Looks like an NC MX-5.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

There is no coupe yet, but it's coming.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Damn Jaguar, you scary.

 

[analog]

The only thing that baffles me is why they decided it would be a convertible-only car. I think it looked miles better as a coupe.

I've no doubt a coupé will follow soon, the fact they released the convertible first might be a historic nod to the E-Type which was originally developed to be a convertible I believe and only later in its development stage (before its launch) a coupé version was based on that, which must rate as one of the best executed afterthoughts in modern history.

Or they just follow BMW and Porsche with their Z3/Z4 and Boxster only later becoming available as coupés, which to be honest seems more likely.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I'm sure it makes marketing sense as well, it means that they can have two separate debuts for the same car (essentially), and draw people into showrooms with a "new" model.

 

[SagarisGTB]

The car looks good, but seeing as how Jaguar promised a "sports car", the weight figures are rather disappointing.

 

[spikeyhairdude]

damn that looks so preety. Seen this somewhere before, dont know where. Think i saw it on speedhunter

 

[McLaren]

I'm sure it makes marketing sense as well, it means that they can have two separate debuts for the same car (essentially), and draw people into showrooms with a "new" model.

That I understand. However, a coupe typically always comes first in the lineup, esp. for a car being marketed as a sports car.

@analog, that's an interesting way to view it.

 

[DaxCobra]

So I am on the A14 right now (I'm a passenger, don't worry) and I think I just saw one of these. Was covered in black and white camouflage, so are they still testing it??

 

[homeforsummer]

So I am on the A14 right now (I'm a passenger, don't worry) and I think I just saw one of these. Was covered in black and white camouflage, so are they still testing it??

Potentially testing new variants, yeah. The midlands is often full of JLR and AML prototypes - even when cars are released, they're usually testing electronics, or the next generation of engines, or so-on.

 

[DeathSmiles]

Hopefully, it's the coupe. I don't care much for the cabriolet.

 

[DaxCobra]

It was a coupe I think. Can't remember now.

 

[Clark]

Saw another F-Type today (work near one of the main routes the Jag test drivers use at Castle Vale), in metallic red. Was stunning like all the others I've seen.

The new XF-RS in front of it was OTT and not what a Jaguar should be.

 

[JohnBM01]

"Damn" is damn right about this damn car. Pardon my language!

I saw this car this past weekend at the Houston Auto Show. I was stunned when I saw this car up close and personal. A coupe version of this car would really spur my interest.

 

[Clark]

Saw 7 F-Types drive past me throughout the day today. I was driving so I couldn't get a picture of any of them.

 

[analog]

Evo Magazine seems to be impressed (at least by the V8-version).

What is it?

We’ll finally get to drive the new Jaguar F-type in April. But Jaguar offered us a ride in the car first, and while you learn way more from the driver’s seat, when it’s a key car like the F-type, it’s well worth grabbing every opportunity you can.

Making things even more interesting, Jaguar brought along both the V6S and V8S versions, chaperoned by the engineers responsible for taking the F-type from concept to production.

The F-type's tech specs

Starting with the basics first, the £67,500 V6S gets the new supercharged 3-litre V6 producing 375bhp and an impressive 399lb ft of torque, while the £79,950 V8S has the latest version of Jaguar’s supercharged 5-litre V8 delivering a monstrous 488bhp and a healthy 460lb ft from 2500rpm onwards.

Drive to the rear wheels is via the new 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox (mounted directly behind the engine) and it’s engineered to give quicker, more aggressive changes than in other Jaguar models. And where the V6S has a passive locking rear differential, the V8S gets the active electronic differential we first saw in the XKR-S.

Finally, the F-type’s body is all aluminium, giving the V6S a kerb weight of 1614kg while the V8S is slightly heavier at 1665kg, but much of this difference is due to all the extra equipment you get as standard (bigger wheels and tyres, 18-way adjustable sports seats).

What’s it like in the metal?

The Jaguar F-type has got a lot more presence than I expected, it looks smaller too and it’s certainly distinctive. I love the quad exhaust tips emerging from the elegant rump of the V8S, compared to centrally mounted twin exhausts on the V6S.

I go in the V8 version first and climbing in I’m struck by how ‘sporty’ the F-type cabin feels. My driver is Erol Mustafa (who headed up the F-type engineering team) and he explains that while the seats are very similar to those in the XKR-S, the seat squab is tilted back by a further six degrees, giving it more of a ‘bucket seat’ feel. There’s loads of legroom up front and there’s a giant grab handle on the centre console.

As Erol starts to enjoy the challenging roads in this part of Wales, you won’t be surprised to hear the V8S feels stonkingly fast. Mercedes SL63 AMG fast in fact. The chassis seems well up to the challenge to transmitting all that power to the road. There’s a sonorous V8 snarl coming from those quad exhausts behind me, quickly replaced by pops and crackles as Erol either lifts for a corner or goes for a downchange. I wasn’t expecting this rumpus at all. I kept being told the V6S was the pick of the range but after this experience, I’m not so sure that’s the case.

We swap cars in Bala and I then head back in the V6S F-type along the same route as we’ve just come from. This time my driver is Mike Cross and he’s keen to show me why he thinks the V6S is the more balanced car of the two. The first thing I notice is it sounds completely different, possessing a six-cylinder howl that’s near-identical to the sound you get in the Porsche 911 (funny that), the only difference being the F-type doesn’t rev as highly. The V6S has a shorter diff ratio than the V8S too, meaning the engine is always spinning faster for any given speed and I sense from the way Mike is driving that you need to keep the V6 more on the boil to make the sort of progress that came so effortlessly in the V8S.

I’m also pleased to report that buffeting at speed is kept to a minimum (something that the 911 Cabrio has always suffered badly from), thanks presumably to the tall tail and high-backed seats.

What are the new F-type’s rivals?

I can sense the V6S F-type has been targeted directly at the Porsche 911 Carrera, as it sounds incredibly similar and all the important performance claims are closely matched. The one important differentiator, though, is price; a standard V6S F-type is over £13,000 cheaper than a 911 Cabrio but from where I’m sitting, it doesn’t feel cheaper in any way.

But it’s the V8S F-type which is the more intriguing. The engineering team seems to prefer the V6S but I believe that’s only because it’s the one more rounded in its abilities. The V6 engine doesn’t dominate the driving experience like the V8, but if you prioritise excitement, then look no further than the supercharged V8.

First ride conclusion

A proper two-seater Jaguar sports car is finally here. And it’s the 488bhp V8S that I’m most excited about. I can remember being shocked when the Mercedes SL55 AMG first arrived. At that moment, everyone had to change their minds as to what the SL was all about, and I sense the same thing is about to happen for Jaguar – the 186mph F-type V8S is properly nuts. Bring on April.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Top Gear wasn't impressed with it on TV, but when they (web site) rode along like in the above feature, they loved it. I love this car, regardless of what people say. The styling on it has had the opposite that the new Corvette's has has: I like itmore and more, and thedesign is modern yet timeless, and should age really well.

 

[MustangManiac]

I love my Jag...and sure would like one of these also 👍