Here it is at last – the F-Type – Jaguar’s sports coupe that countless enthusiasts had been waiting years to see. The model that finally gave the British brand something it had been missing for a very long time (partly because of its partnership with Ford): a desirable, sporty and incredibly sexy coupe – a spiritual successor to the legendary Jaguar E-Type.
The F-Type has already been on the market for three years. Initially it was sold only as a convertible, while the coupe joined the range in 2014. And the coupe is arguably the more interesting option for several reasons – it looks better, is significantly more rigid and therefore sharper and more entertaining to drive, costs around €6,600 less than the convertible, and is also slightly more practical.
At the moment, the British sports car is offered with two main engines and several power outputs. The entry-level unit is a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 340 hp. Above it sits the S version with the same engine, but 380 hp. At the top of the range is the supercharged V8, available in two states of tune – 550 hp and 575 hp.
Luckily for me, the car I tested came with the six-cylinder engine (lower weight and better weight distribution), paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.
Design
The F-Type is a car that grabs attention instantly. The long bonnet, rear-set cabin, wide rear arches and low profile are all elements we are not used to seeing every day on the streets, and they undoubtedly attract attention even from “ordinary” people – meaning those for whom a car is simply red or green.
The design of the F-Type is the work of the well-known Ian Callum, who has also worked on the Aston Martin DB7 (one of my favourite cars), Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XK – although he perhaps missed the mark slightly there – and a number of other iconic cars. Unsurprisingly, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London and is partly responsible for the look of all modern Jaguars.
But back to the F-Type. Apart from being striking in its own right, its design includes plenty of references to the E-Type, though without resorting to a clichéd retro approach. Personally, I think the rear end is the most beautiful part of the F-Type – the sloping roofline, large rear window, slim tail-lights and those wide sculpted haunches are simply outstanding. The front end, on the other hand, feels slightly more restrained and not particularly distinctive.
One interesting detail are the retractable door handles, which sit flush with the body when the car is locked or moving, leaving behind a perfectly smooth surface. Are they practical? Not at all. But they are cool. And that matters a lot in a car like the F-Type.
Interior
Not long ago I filmed a video about Jaguar’s first SUV – the Jaguar F-Pace – in which I said that it had my favourite interior of any Jaguar I had driven. Well, now I have a new favourite. The interior of the sports coupe is very pleasant in terms of design, build quality and materials. Overall, the dashboard differs quite a lot from what we are used to seeing in Jaguar’s range, with a much stronger focus on the driver.
In fact, even adjusting the climate control temperature from the passenger seat feels awkward because of the “barrier” created by the centre console, which seems designed specifically to keep passengers away from the driver’s toys – namely the buttons for changing the driving modes (comfort, sport and so on), the switch for activating the sports exhaust mode (because what could be better than waking up the whole neighbourhood with some V6 thunder?) and several other controls with slightly less exciting functions.
The modern, high-tech atmosphere is enhanced by climate control dials with integrated displays and, most interestingly, centre air vents that remain hidden when not needed and rise above the navigation screen when activated. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of them because I got so carried away with the car that I forgot to take one.
Space inside is relatively limited and the overall feeling is that you are sitting in something very low and cramped. Personally, it reminded me of the car Cruella de Vil drove in 101 Dalmatians – this is exactly how I always imagined it. The seats themselves are comfortable enough, although I personally missed stronger lateral support, especially around the shoulders.
As for storage space, there are very narrow door pockets and a small compartment beneath the central armrest. The boot officially offers 315 litres, which does not sound bad on paper, but in reality it has an awkward shape and is rather shallow, so transporting jars of homemade preserves might prove difficult.
On the road
Now for the important part. The Jaguar F-Type has two main purposes – to be driven, and to be parked somewhere so you can stand back and admire it. Since my time with the car was limited, I decided to focus mainly on the driving experience.
So, on a not particularly dry morning, I found myself at Moto-Pfohe holding the keys to a red F-Type S AWD. As mentioned earlier, the car was equipped with the 3.0-litre V6 producing 380 hp and 460 Nm of torque. That allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds (the rear-wheel-drive version is 0.2 seconds quicker). Top speed is 275 km/h and, for those interested, fuel consumption officially ranges between 6.9 and 12.4 l/100 km. Officially. In this specification the car costs around €93,000 before optional extras.
The moment I settled into the driver’s seat I realised that the F-Type was a bit more focused than I had expected. The seating position is extremely low and even with the seat adjusted to its highest position you still sit very deep inside the car. Overall the driving position is unusual, comfortable once you get used to it, and not particularly helpful for visibility.
Then it was time to start the engine. The roar that greeted me caught me slightly by surprise. Yes, the F-Type is well known for its loud exhaust system, but I had always imagined the cabin to be quieter. For me, the surprise was a pleasant one. Shortly after setting off I noticed another pleasant – and expected – surprise. Unlike most drivers in Bulgaria, I actually use my indicators properly, and while leaving the Moto-Pfohe complex I was once again reminded that Jaguar makes the best-sounding indicators in the automotive industry. They sound exactly like the ticking at the beginning of one painfully commercial pop song. A surprisingly charming detail.
After leaving Sofia via the Northern Speed Tangent, I headed towards Troyan along the Hemus motorway. One of the first things that impressed me was the suspension. Although undeniably firm, it still provides a perfectly acceptable level of comfort over normal road imperfections. The moment I joined the motorway, I naturally buried the accelerator pedal into the carpet and launched forward. The acceleration was strong, but also calm and very controlled, thanks to the AWD system.
And since we are talking about acceleration, it is worth paying special attention to the sound this car produces – because it is absolutely insane. Put the exhaust into sport mode and the atmosphere fills with a raspy growl and ridiculous crackles that any self-respecting car enthusiast would adore. But enough explaining – hear it for yourself. I strongly recommend watching from the 1:30 mark onward.
After accelerating to a certain speed that I would rather not mention, I calmly engaged cruise control at 150 km/h and continued on my way. At that speed the car feels perfectly suited to long-distance driving, because cabin noise is not excessive. The engine is clearly audible but never annoying, aerodynamic noise comes mainly from around the A-pillars, while the most noticeable sound is actually tyre noise from the road surface.
This may be unnecessary information, but at speeds of around 100 km/h and above, the active rear spoiler integrated into the boot lid rises into position. Cars with a sloping roofline naturally generate a considerable amount of lift, so Jaguar’s aerodynamic engineers added the spoiler specifically to counteract it.
I reached the end of the motorway with an average fuel consumption of 9.6 l/100 km – not bad at all – and continued towards Troyan on the main road. Here I had the chance to perform several quick overtakes, and I noticed a slight delay between pressing the throttle and the car reacting. This comes from the gearbox, which in certain situations feels a little slow for this type of car. The solution is simple – use the steering wheel paddles, because the shifts themselves are quick enough.
Once in Troyan, I opened Google Maps and wondered where to go next. Beklemeto Pass? The road is good, but perhaps too busy, and I needed something quieter. So, without having any idea whether I would encounter smooth asphalt or lunar craters, I headed along the secondary road towards Ribaritsa and Teteven. This was also the moment when I switched into Sport mode and finally started driving the F-Type properly. “Properly” is perhaps not the right word, because the weather was cold and wet, while the car was fitted with summer tyres, so I still had to be careful.
Driving the car more aggressively is hugely enjoyable. The chassis feels incredibly stable, while the suspension and rigid body structure provide superb composure and excellent connection with the road. In fact, the AWD system makes the car very easy to drive and, to some extent, removes part of the excitement and adrenaline you would experience in the rear-wheel-drive version. I believe this is an advantage in daily use, but anyone looking for a car to truly misbehave in – and who is not afraid of ending up in a ditch – would probably be better off choosing the RWD version.
On tight and twisty roads, the F-Type remains extremely obedient. The steering is precise and direct, with good feedback, while the AWD system constantly corrects both the driver’s mistakes and playful intentions. The result is very neutral behaviour through corners. My attempts to make the rear end dance slightly were quickly shut down by the all-wheel-drive system… and also by the stability control, which I did not dare switch off given the bad weather and unfamiliar road.
I ended the day with a short drive around Sofia, where the F-Type feels completely out of place – like a jaguar trapped in a cage, unable to use its abilities and with far too little space around it. Visibility is limited, parking is difficult, and there is always the risk of scraping the front bumper against a curb. So after a bit of aimless wandering, I reluctantly returned the F-Type to Moto-Pfohe.
Conclusion
Can somebody lend me €77,000?
With a starting price of around €66,000, that is roughly what a well-equipped F-Type with the entry-level engine costs – and that engine already provides more than enough performance for both everyday driving and occasional entertainment.
The lines above probably make my opinion about the F-Type fairly clear. This is a remarkably accurate hit from Jaguar – a car that impresses with its elegant, characterful design and very well-balanced abilities on the road. What I personally love most is that the car has spirit and personality, something that is immediately noticeable and missing from some of its rivals.
Unfortunately, the F-Type will remain a rare sight on Bulgarian roads because of the conservative mentality that still dominates our part of the world. Otherwise, the car is absolutely worth it, and the five-year unlimited mileage warranty is only another advantage for more rational buyers.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
