Jaguar F-Type Review
Car Tested: 2013 Jaguar F-Type
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1.776 crore (V6 S), Rs. 2.086 crore (V8 S)
The Jaguar F-Type is a sports car with massive emotional appeal and an exhaust note which truly thrills the aural senses.
Jaguar has been making sports car even before the company was called Jaguar. Circa 1960, Jaguar launched a vehicle which went and became a design icon, winning several awards for being the world’s most beautiful car, time and again. The design of the Jaguar E-Type is timeless, it looks marvellous even today. Enzo Ferrari had called the E-Type the most beautiful car ever made and we can’t help but agree with him. So it definitely wasn’t easy for Jaguar to design the E-Type’s successor, the F-Type. Launched 39 years after the production of the E-Type stopped, the current F-Type is not Jaguar’s first attempt.
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In 1980, Jaguar started work on the F-Type (codenamed XJ41) which was underpinned by the XJ40 sedan. It was expected to go into production in 1986 but several complications (mostly increase in weight and deviation from the original concept) led to the delay. By the time Jaguar was ready to put the F-Type into production, the vehicle had gained 300 kgs in weight and then Ford bought the British company and cancelled the project. However Ian Callum placed this F-Type on an XJS platform and the Aston Martin DB7 was conceived. Later in the year 2000, Jaguar unveiled the F-Type Concept but that too didn’t make it to production. Enough for the history lesson, the 2013 F-Type (X152) is a 2-seater sports car which shows what Jaguar is really capable of, producing an impressive sports car which stays true to the company’s rich history of design and speed, seen in the C, D and E-Type. We went all the way to the country of the bulls to drive this wild cat.
Exteriors – The Jaguar F-Type is based on the C-X16 Concept, which was showcased in 2011. The styling of the F-Type is stunning and the vehicle displays even more visual drama in the flesh. There are some E-Type cues in the design but Jaguar has gone the long haul by completely designing the F-Type from scratch. The result is a vehicle which looks fast even while standing still. The front features a pair of vertically stacked headlights which feature bi-xenon projector technology along with a L-shaped day time running light. The large, almost rectangular grille adorns the most part of the front, with a chrome lining amplifying the aggressive stance. Two sets of air intakes are placed right next to the grille and the low yet wide body gives the vehicle immense presence.
The side profile reveals the classic long hood and short rear proportions which is typical of a modern sports car. The size of the wheels depend on the variant (18-inch on the V6, 19-inch on the V6 S and 20-inch on the V8 S) and you can choose between 6 options, all of them are extremely sporty and attractive. A small crease runs to the door from the lower side of the clamshell bonnet, met by an air intake with chrome surrounds on either sides.
One of the party pieces of the F-Type are the door handles, which remain closed till you open the vehicle. This helps the F-Type to remain extremely aerodynamic. Jaguar likes to call this mechanism a mechanical handshake.
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The F-Type is such a ravishing design that it’s hard to decide which angle yields the most eye pops. However the rear design is absolutely the most delightful part of the F-Type. The well tapered rear features narrow tail lights, which take you back to the E-Type, maybe a deja vu. The design is minimalistic yet so evoking and reveals the sporty stance of the vehicle, with the massive tyres clearly visible. Twin exhaust pipes are placed in the centre on the V6 models, while the V8 has quad pipes (two on each side). The rear design might seem to lack aerodynamic flare but an active rear spoiler deploys at speed, thereby keeping the car’s clean lines firmly intact. Jaguar has really got the styling spot on, the F-Type really looks menacing. Our drive around Spain was testimony to the design highlights of the F-Type, people turned around and gawked, their eyes showed nothing but delight.
The F-Type’s styling is very well executed. Jaguar has made a car which not only looks the part, but also fits into the company’s legacy of sports car design seen almost 60 years back.
Head over to the next page to read about the interiors of the Jaguar F-Type.
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Interiors – Once you enter the Jaguar F-Type, you will immediately appreciate the attention to detail all around. The dashboard is a mix of sporty and luxury and everything feels rich in quality and appearance. The layout of the cockpit is very driver centric and all controls fall easily in the hands of the driver. A 3-spoke steering wheel has quite a few buttons and feels splendid to hold. The cluster has a black background with white dials and the tachometer has a bigger font to make it easier to read while making lightning quick shifts. There is a screen right between the gauges where all vehile information is displayed. Even the navigation system is shown here to boost convenience while driving. A grab handle is designed on the centre console for the co-passenger, which we find a little out of place, as it takes away the symmertry of the centre console.
Jaguar makes their cabins with some bit of theatre in them and the AC vents in the F-Type are testimony to the same. Like the XF, when the air-conditioning is turned off, the AC vents magically disappear (only centre ones). They only pop up when you need them. The 8-inch touch screen infotainment system features four buttons on either side. It controls navigation, audio and phone (rear parking sensors with visual aids on the V8 S). It is very easy to use and is borrowed from other Jaguar cars. Some of the buttons on the centre console are reminiscent of the E-Type, like the air craft inspired switches. However there is absolutely no wood inside the car, instead the interiors heavily use stainless steel and aluminium.
The rotary dials for the dual zone climate control system have a digital readout inside them and can also control the heating function on the seats. The design of the door knob is also thoughtfully done and carries forward the high attention to detail seen all around. The buttons are soft touch and are similar to other Jaguars, like the glove box switch which is feather light to use. There are other storage areas too, including one inside the arm rest on the centre console. Boot space is nothing great but neither of its competitors offer anything significant either. However the trunk will hold a golf bag.
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The seats on the F-Type are extremely supportive, offering tremedous comfort to the occupants. The controls are conveniently placed on the door, rather than being hidden on the lower side of the seats. The seats feature full power adjustment (14-way adjustable on the V8 S) including lumbar and side support. You sit quite low (the F-Type is 20 mm lower than the XKR-S) but still visibility is good. One can also order Performance seats which have even better side bolstering.
The paddle shifters, engine start button and dynamic mode toggle switch is coloured in Ignis orange, thereby being highlighted. The F-Type features a gear lever instead of a rotary knob, in keeping with the sports car theme. There are buttons placed right behind the lever which control various functions including dynamic, eco and winter modes. The F-Type features an audio system from Meridian, with 10 or 12 speakers, offering 380 watts or 770 watts of output respectively. There is also Meridian Trifield System availabe, which creates a surround sound acoustic expereience inside the cabin. But frankly, who wants to listen to music inside the F-Type, when it has a sound track which is truly music to the soul.
The interiors of the F-Type stay true to Jaguar’s principle of offering a cabin which immediately relates to you on an emotional level. The attention to detail is simple astounding.
Head over to the next page to read about the performance of the Jaguar F-Type.
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The Jaguar F-Type’s engines offer raw and unadulterated performance, with staggering vocals to match.
Performance – The Jaguar F-Type is offered with three engines (power being fed to the rear wheels) – V6, V6 S and V8 S, only the latter two will be offered in India. The V6 F-Type uses a 3.0-litre engine offering two set of tunes. In the base variant, the F-Type produces 340 PS of power at 6500 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 3500-5000 RPM. This engine gives the F-Type a 0-100 km/hr time of 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/hr. In the V6 S variant, the 2995cc unit produces 380 PS of power at 6500 RPM and 460 Nm of torque between 3500-5000 RPM. This set of tune is unique to the F-Type and no other Jaguar model is offered with this motor. 100 km/hr from standstill takes 4.9 seconds, while top speed is 275 km/hr. Both V6 and V6 S models offer very good performance and respond quickly to throttle inputs, with very little supercharger whine being audible inside the cabin. We drove the V6 model from Pamplona airport to the Navarra circuit and appreciated the good drivability from this motor.
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At the Navarra circuit, Jaguar switched us to the V6 S model, which not only has higher output but more tech wizardry as well. The V6 S F-Type has a lower final drive ratio, a mechanical limited-slip differential, adaptive dynamic suspension, 19-inch wheels, bigger 15-inch brake rotors and most notably an active exhaust system. This motor feels much more eager than the standard V6 version and has some serious punch. It might have 40 extra horses over the standard V6 but the performance on the road is truly something else. The engine is very quick to respond and accelerates in a brutal fashion to its redline, making a throaty roar in the progress. On the track, we were taking most corners in third gear, which helped prevent wheel spin, thereby preventing electronic nannies from interfering. Even then it was easy to whizz past 140 km/hr on small straights.
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Do we really need a more powerful engine? The V6 S was pure exhilaration but Jaguar has something even more powerful on offer. It’s the 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 engine which belts out 495 PS of power at 6500 RPM and 625 Nm of torque between 2500-5500 RPM. With this much amount of output on offer, the V8 powerplant propels the F-Type from zero to gale force 100 in just 4.3 seconds, with a top whack limited to 300 km/hr. It’s just not outright acceleration which is mind bending, even in-gear acceleration is applaud worthy and 80-120 km/hr takes just 2.5 seconds. The F-Type V8 S is faster than what the above numbers suggest, performance is pure savage. The way this motor pulls right from the word go leaves you awestruck, it’s brilliant, fast, hair raising and heart thumping. Bury your right foot and you will genuinely snap back into your seat. Every short burst of acceleration results in a wide grin, which doesn’t get wiped off even hours after you leave the vehicle, such is the brutal performance of this V8 missile.
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The F-Type also has Dynamic Launch Control which reduces traction control to give maximum acceleration. There is even a Stop/Start system to reduce fuel consumption. All engines are mated to a 8-speed QuickShift automatic gearbox, with manual override through either the SportShift selector or steering mounted paddle shifts. Cog changing happens very quickly and mostly go unnoticed, such is the refinment from the transmission. The gearbox won’t hessitate one bit to hold gears till redline in Sport mode, keeping the engine on the boil. It even blips the throttle quite aggressively on down shifts. The exhaust note is intoxicating on all the versions, more so in the S variants with the active exhaust note activated. In the V8 model, the exhaust is pure orchestra. There are pops, cracks, burbles and boy does it sound pure melody. The way the F-Type sounds on start up, with a mild rev is simply breathe taking. The use of a soft top helps in a weight saving of 12 kgs and the twin hoops lower the centre of gravity. With the top down, those canisters are even more audible. It just takes 12 seconds to retract the roof and feel the wind in your hair. A wind deflector should however be offered, at least as an option.
The Jaguar F-Type truly thrills with stupendous performance and the V8 variant is so quick, you see scenery blur at a pace only seen in video games.
Head over to the next page to read about the dynamics of the Jaguar F-Type.
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Driving Dynamics – The Jaguar F-Type uses an alminium body structure which helps in weight reduction. The vehicle has a 50:50 weight distribution on the V6 models and 51:49 on the V8 model (battery and washer fluid reservoir have been placed in the boot). The rear wing deploys at speeds in excess of 96 km/hr and reduces lift by 120 kgs. The company claims the F-Type is 30% stiffer with a 10% quicker steering than any other Jaguar which yields it excellent dynamic ability. It also has short overhangs and aluminium suspension which helps in reducing centre of gravity and keeps unsprung weight at bay. We drove the V6 S through the 15-turn, 3.93 kms Navarra Circuit and were pleased by the sharp handling and well weighed hydraulic steering. The steering wheel has an instant over center response and is quick with turn-ins, giving tremendous feedback and urges you to push harder. The balance through sharp turns is impressive and the F-Type simply jinks into corners and remains tremendously composed. The limited slip differential (on the V6 S) and electronic active differential (V8 S) are integrated to the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), working underground to keep things clean and fuss free. The dampers further stiffen the body on turns to keep those wide Pirellis glued to the tarmac, no hint of understeer whatsoever.
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Even though the F-Type is the stiffest Jaguar till date, it has an excellent ride quality, which has very little harshness to it. The ride quality on the V8 S model was noticeably stiffer, with bigger rims underpinning it. With the Dynamic Mode enabled (dials turn red), the F-Type is so much more eager, with increased steering weight, stiffened suspension, quicker gear shifts (no automatic upshifts in manual mode) and reduced electronic intervention. Blasting through the track and countryside roads of Spain, the F-Type remained very accurate through corners and well planted at high speeds. The V8 feels slightly heavier and not as nimble as the V6 S. The F-Type weighs around 150 kgs more than the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and Jaguar engineers say the F is 3-4% heavier but 6% bigger than the German. The 911 is faster and more engaging to drive but Porsche has been making the same car for 50-years now and for Jaguar to come even close is itself an achievement.
The Jaguar F-Type picks a thing of two from the Nissan GT-R. The infotatinment system shows throttle and brake inputs along with G-forces generated. The Configurable Dynamics options lets you sharpen the steering weight and throttle response while at the same time keeping the ride quality unchanged on models with Adaptive Dynamics. It also has a stop watch, so you can record your lap times. The brakes on the F-Type offer excellent stopping power and in spite of heavy braking on the circuit, there was no brake fade. Pedal bite is extremely surefooted with good depth of modulation on offer.
The Jaguar F-Type has a superbly calibrated steering wheel and excellent poise through sharp bends, it feels alive and devours corners with relatively high precision.
Head over to the next page to read our verdict on the Jaguar F-Type.
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Verdict – The Jaguar F-Type is a sports car with massive emotional appeal. It has a crazy list of equipment and is as luxurious as much as it is sporty. However the high equipment list adds to weight, which robs away the nimbleness offered by the Porsche 911. But the F-Type really doesn’t have to beat the Porsche 911, a car which has witnessed heavy evolution. The F-Type starts from scratch and needs to carve its own identity in the sports car segment. Something it manages to do in style and aural symphony. The F-Type might not be the fastest car in its segment around the track, but it offers the same level of driver thrill, with excellent comfort and good agility. The F-Type showcases the engineering capability of Jaguar and how the company can make really wild cats, which are ferocious and insane fun.
The Jaguar F-Type is fast, loud, surefooted and comfortable. It is a fitting successor to the legendary E-Type.
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What’s Cool
* Performance
* Attention to detail
* Equipment level
* Exhaust note
What’s Not So Cool
* Base V6 not coming to India
* CBU pricing
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2013 Jaguar F-Type Specifications
* Overall length x width x height: 4470 mm X 1923 mm X 1296 mm
* Wheelbase: 2622 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1585/1627 mm
* Boot Volume: 200.5-litres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 72-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1597-1665 kgs