Everything about the F-TYPE R is awesome but especially the drive and the looks
Even a 911 has more luggage space
You can almost hear the words of ‘England The Brave’ as you walk towards the Jaguar F-Type R coupe. In a market segment dominated by the Germans, the F-Type R - brutally fast, stunning to look at, sumptuously sporty inside – is somehow as British as kippers for breakfast.
If the luxurious XF and XJ made statements that Jaguar was back to its best, the F-Type R shouts the message like Jimmy Barnes at full noise.
For the F-Type R to succeed it must – like Jaguar’s luxury sedans – capture buyers from the German brands. That Jaguar continues to grow sales globally, confirms its range has the goods – and that is great news for the brand which of course is now owned by Tata of India.
Jaguar F-TYPE R Overview
The F-Type R is the superstar leader of the Jaguar F-Type range. Priced at $226,970 it boasts the most powerful supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, a sports-oriented version of the F-Type’s to-die for interior and exterior enhancements appropriate for a fair-dinkum sports car.
Based on the Coupe (non-convertible) model the F-Type R is stiffer and also scores firmer ‘R’ sports suspension calibration.
Jaguar F-TYPE R Engine
The F-Type R is blessed with Jaguar’s most powerful engine – the supercharged 5.0-litre V8. With a sonorous sound from the four tailpipes which can be enhanced by the active exhaust system, i t is outrageously powerful.
Yes folks we have 405kW of power at 6500rpm (redline an eye-straining 7000rpm) and monstrous peak torque of 680Nm at 3500rpm.
Drive is a Jaguar’s ‘Quickshift’ eight-speed automatic transmission.
Jaguar F-TYPE R The Interior
Climb aboard the F-Type R and immediately you’re graced with an obviously sporty look from the ‘R’-themed goodies with just enough luxury/technology cues to confirm this is a Jaguar. The combination of figure-hugging ‘R’ sports seats in leather, abundant technology and the obvious high-quality materials are enough to justify your considerable expenditure right there.
As usual with the F-Type there is the perfect sports driving position and the unique flat-bottom, thick leather-wrapped ‘R’ steering wheel and the top-shelf instrumentation. To the left is the hallmark high centre console and centre stack with the satellite navigation/audio screen and ‘party trick’ automatically rising air vents.
Based on the coupe version of the F-Type, the ‘R’ benefits from the opening tailgate which affords a fraction more luggage space than the convertible.
Jaguar F-TYPE R Exterior & Styling
In the looks department, beyond a shadow of doubt the Jaguar F-Type R is one of the most stunning sports cars money can buy. Of course starting with the regular F-type sure helps.
We actually think the rear-end is the best angle. The diffuser-type bumper with the four tailpipes, the aggressive tail-lights and wide haunches make this Jag look mean and purposeful.
Of course lurking underneath is an active rear spoiler which deploys at speed.
And we actually prefer the roofline and rear-three quarters of the coupe over the convertible.
The F-Type R sits lower than the regular version thanks to the ‘R’ suspension and gains gloss black side sill extensions, gloss black bonnet vents and glorious 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels.
Jaguar F-TYPE R On The Road
On any road in any circumstance the Jaguar F-Type R is an awesome drive. And that’s the clever bit – the ‘Big Cat’ will purr contentedly in the daily commute freeway log-jam just as much as it rewards with a full-on blast over your favourite twisty road (of course the exhaust noise is considerably different if you flick that centre console switch with the chequered flag logo on it and get near the 7000rpm redline…best to not do that in the city!).
The stiffer chassis came into play when we tackled our high-speed mountain roads test loop – this thing is a pure sports car to the convertible’s more coupe-like demeanor. So there’s an urgency and edginess about the F-Type R which rewards is a series of corners with crisp turn-in and instant response mid-turn which you feel through the steering wheel and your backside – just as you do in any great sports car.
As for the supercharged V8 – well its performance is simply astonishing. Dial-up the sports mode and the standing start acceleration puts your neck muscles under strain and if changing gears manually you need full concentration to snatch a cog before the cut-out…this thing is seriously fast.
But just as awesome is the response of the Jaguar F-type R in the mid-range. We’re talking freeway overtaking or accelerating out of corners – brilliant (again)!
And that exhaust note – wow! On our test route there’s a tightening second gear right-hand corner at the end of a long downhill section - it’s carved out of a gully and noises reverberate. So we came down the hill flicking down from eight to two and each change was accompanied by the most glorious sound of exhaust cracking and popping we’ve heard since the turbocharged era of F1 racing.
Around town the supercharged V8 proved to be superbly tractable. But like any sports car, visibility was a bit of an Achilles heel for the F-Type R – noticeable when changing lanes and reverse parking.
Jaguar F-TYPE R Issues
We’ve enjoyed some memorable dinners with Jaguar’s design guru Ian Callum at various international media launches. At our next meeting we’re going to ask: “Ian, as a clean-sheet design couldn’t you have given the F-Type R a larger boot?”
Jaguar F-TYPE R Verdict
File the Jaguar F-Type R under ‘S’ for ‘supercar’. That’s no exaggeration – the British marque is back to its roots and those roots were in high-performance sports cars just like the F-Type R.
It’s the same as Lamborghini and Ferrari - stoke the Jaguar F-Type R and you’ll soon realize this beast is no boulevard cruiser – it is seriously fast and can be quite savage. And, just like those Italian supercars, we just love the Jag.
Yes you can drive the Jaguar F-Type R for your every day crawl through the peak hour and the glorious leather interior and Meridian audio system will have you supremely comfortable. Just don’t forget to unleash it over your favourite road at the weekend – because that’s when you’ll enjoy the best pay-back for your $226,970.
Jaguar F-TYPE R The Competition
The air is a bit thin at this end of the market. In that context in fact the Jaguar F-Type R emerges as somewhat of a bargain.
As we write the Mercedes-AMG GT S is soon to arrive and on looks/style seems the most direct rival for the Jaguar F-Type R. The AMG bi-turbo V8 delivers 375kW/650Nm to 404kW/680Nm for the Jag but the ‘Benz weighs-in a bit lighter. However you’ll need a lot more coin – it’s $295,000 for Germany’s best.
It’s $214,550 for the Porsche 911 Carrera with the seven-speed PDK so you’re saving some coin but is the 911 a pure sports car like the Jaguar F-Type R? Questionable that one. And Porsche’s ‘atmo’ 3.4-litre is only good for 257kW/390Nm and zero to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds – both stats overshadowed by the Jag.
