Jaguar has introduced its first new sports car in 40 years, so it's no wonder that a lot of auto enthusiasts and sports car lovers are intrigued. What's the new Jag like? Here's our report.
What is it?
F-Type is the long, long anticipated small roadster that fits in below the Jaguar XK. Like the XK, it uses an advanced aluminum chassis construction, but the F-Type has sportier intentions, and it is smaller in every dimension (the overall length a foot shorter). It arrives at a time when Jaguar is in a much better place and has a confident vision, which shows throughout the car.
What's under the hood?
Three models are available: a 340hp supercharged V6, a 380hp V6 S model, and a 495hp supercharged V8 in the V8 S. For our test, we drove the V6 S model.
Observations
The F-Type is fast, and it has tons of grip— basically what you'd expect from a $80,000-plus sports roadster. One of the most impressive aspects is the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, which offers shockingly fast shifts (up or down) with no hesitation. It can be controlled with gold adonized paddles behind the steering wheel (the gold bits are inspired by the EuroFighter jet) and is just an incredible piece of engineering.
But the most impressive aspect is the sound. With the dynamic exhaust enabled, it will howl, bark and snarl like an un-mufflered rally car. It's an incredibly raw sound, particularly on mid-throttle upshifts and hard downshifts.
Styling
The design of the F-Type is what happens when Jaguar's master stylist Ian Callum is given the resources to make the most stunning Jaguar sports car possible. The result is pretty fantastic.
It was originally previewed in the CX-16 Coupe concept, and it remains true to the concept car's design, albeit in roadster form. There are beautiful details everywhere — vents in the hood, razor-thin LED tail lamps, and beautiful crystal-like gauge needles.
Comfort
The interior of the F-Type is solidly made, and most of the things you touch are wrapped in leather. Ride quality is compliant, and wind noise is well-controlled, even with the top down at speeds of 75 mph and above.
Utility
Not much to speak of. The trunk is somewhat deep, and thankfully the convertible top doesn't cut into the cargo space when the top is open or closed, but it's very shallow. Pack lightly.
Efficiency?
The V6 S model is EPA rated at 19 mpg city and 27 mph highway.
What's good?
"Sounds just like a racing car" is the most overused and often inaccurate trope that could be written about a car, but the F-Type really sounds like a racing car. It's quick and very comfortable for extended periods of time. There's too much to list.
What's not?
The trunk is tiny. And the cartoonishly thick steering wheel might be a tad too thick. We may have reached peak thick steering wheel in these last few years.
How much does it cost?
The standard F-Type starts at $69,000. From there, the S model costs $81,000, and the 186-mph V8 S begins at $92,000.
Our verdict
Jaguar has taken a different road from its German competitors. They've built a fast car that's not necessarily for the track; it's a beautiful car capable of so much more than boulevard cruising. If you're looking for aural drama and visual panache, it is unmatched by cars twice its price.
How we'd buy it
The mid-level V6 S model adds a limited-slip diff, bigger brakes, the active exhaust and a few other goodies, which might make it our pick. Opt for the performance seats, which are superb. You may want to pick a less subtle color than our Stratus Grey example — perhaps Italian Racing Red or Polaris White.
We test drove the new Jaguar F-Type convertible, which just arrived at dealerships.
