AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 75J
aguar’s F-Type two-
seater convertible starts
at $132,900 for the 221kW
2.0-litre four cylinder/
eight-speed automatic 2.0T.
Six-cylinder power starts at
$147,100 for the 250kW 3.0-litre
V6 supercharged/six-speed
manual. The eight-speed
automatic is $152,100.
The same V6, with 280kW, is
priced at $174,600/$179,600.
The F-Type R, with a 404kW
5.0-litre supercharged V8/eight-
speed auto and all-wheel drive is
$271,900. The SVR hot rod, tuned
for 423kW, is $316,300.
The F-Type Coupe is priced at
$114,200 for the 2.0t, $128,400
for the 250kW V6/six-speed
manual and $155,900 for the
280kW manual. The eight-speed
auto adds $5000 and the 280kW
AWD automatic is $176,700.
The R coupe is $253,200 and
the SVR is $297,600.
Jaguar’s Ingenium 2.0-litre
four-cylinder turbopetrol engine
produces 221kW and 400Nm and
the base F-Type hits 100km/h
in 5.7 seconds, so it’s a genuine
Porsche Boxster/Cayman rival.
Jaguar never fails to deliver a
smokin’ engine and the 280kW
supercharged V6 is a beauty too.
Push the start button and it fi res
with a triumphant Varooom!
On the move, it hauls
effortlessly and relentlessly to
the 6700rpm redline, though
without any signifi cant extra top-
end kick, so you tend to short
shift at around 6000rpm.
Supercharger whine isn’t
intrusive, or perhaps it’s simply
out-louded by the amazing
assortment of crackles, pops and
chortles that emanate from the
open bypass valves in the exhaust.
The 5.0-litre V8 is more of the
same, just quicker, louder and
meaner. It launches the all-wheel
drive coupe to 100km/h in just 4.1
seconds; the 280kW V6 takes a
little longer at 5.1 seconds.
The SVR hotrod, with the V8
cranked up to 423kW, hits a top
speed of 322km/h and 0–100km/h
in just 3.7 seconds.
Switchable drivetrain/
suspension/steering modes
include Dynamic, Normal
and Rain/Ice/Snow, while thetransmission also features Drive,
Sport and manual modes, with
lever or paddle shifting.
You feel completely enveloped
by the F-Type, luxuriating
in supportive GT seats with
adjustable backrest bolsters.
The seating position in the
F-Type puts your backside close
to the rear wheels, so you get
superb feedback on grip, drive
and balance as you apply power.
You literally drive this car by the
seat of your pants.
The front end is much further
away and not quite as talkative,
but electromechanical power
steering is pin sharp, completely
intuitive and effortless.
That said, the F-Type can
initially feel unwieldy in tight
corners because although its
aluminium body is as rigid as
they come, it’s one of those
cars that seems larger than it
actually is — a smidge shorter
than a 911, but signifi cantly
wider and about 300kg heavier.
As cornering speeds rise,
however, poise, agility and
balance improve and theJaguar’s ultimate dynamic
limits are extremely high,
assisted on all-wheel-drive
models by stiffer springs that
virtually eliminate body roll, at
the price of a pretty hard ride.
The Jaguar F-Type R hasn’t
had the attention of its Porsche,
Audi, BMW and Mercedes AMG
rivals, but on any road it’s every
bit as capable, boisterously brutal
in true Brit style and as beautiful
to drive as it is to behold.JAGUAR F-TYPE FROM $114,200
THINGS WE LIKE
Gorgeous styling
Supercharged performance
Exuberant exhaust noises
Responsive steering
Lots of grip
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
^ Overpriced
^ Useless boot in the convertible
^ Dated, clumsy infotainment system
SPEX (280kW V6 convertible) (^) Made in England
(^) 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol/
eight-speed automatic/rear-
wheel drive
(^) 280kW of power at 6500rpm/460Nm
of torque from 3500–5500rpm
(^) 0–100km/h in 4.9 seconds (claimed)
(^) 6.6L/100km highway; 12.0L/100km
city; 95 octane premium; CO 2
emissions are 203g/km
(^) Warranty: Three years/unlimited
kilometres
(^) Standard: Four airbags, stability
control, leather upholstery, 19-
inch alloy wheels, sports seats
with leather facings, sports
steering wheel with shift paddles,
alarm, sports suspension with
adaptive dampers, bi-xenon
headlights, navigation. Type R adds
20-inch alloys
(^) Redbook future values: 3yr: 52%;
5yr: 40%
Safety
Not Yet Tested
Green Vehicle Guide
Performance
Handling
Quality and reliability
Comfort and refi nement
Value for money
Overall
compare with ...
Audi TTRS, BMW M4, Mercedes AMG
GT S, Porsche Cayman, Boxster, 911
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