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Road Test Review: 2015 Jaguar F-Type & F-Type R Coupe
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Road Test Review: 2015 Jaguar F-Type & F-Type R Coupe

·
May 11,2015
·
5 min read

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This has been an interesting week. I thought about doing something different this time – a comparison sort of – albeit between the same models. Since the time I watched Jeremy Clarkson drive the F-Type, I had the itch to drive it myself – mainly for the exhaust notes and witness the fascination behind British sports cars(Prices and Specs of F-type). Luckily for me, both the F-Type versions were available for test drive and so I booked them one back to back to really feel the difference between the two and ofcourse, to open up those valves.

Styling

Let’s just get this out of the way. The F-type is gorgeous. Period. It is a never-seen-before Jaguar design and I absolutely love it. It pays homage to the 50s/60s eras of sports cars in terms of looks and with all the big brutes and low riders we come across every day, this car truly stands out.

Coming to the actual cars, the F-Type is a sleek 2 seater sports car with beauty reflecting from every angle. With the R, Jaguar made sure that they don’t ruin that and added subtle changes like beefier alloys and quad exhausts. Overall, both cars look aesthetic and poster-worthy.

Interior Materials & Visibility

When you’re shelling out 300K and 470K, you expect to be snuggled in with Persian rugs. Alas, that’s not the case here. But, what you do get is the next best thing – leather; everywhere. The interior is nicely built and feels strong and durable. The only complain I have is with the sun visor. They don’t feel premium at all. 

The main difference between the base model and R is the added carbon fiber, golden colored paddles and red colored seats with R badges everywhere. 

JLR can improve the seats as well and make them softer than there are currently. I understand the sports car feel but this is more of a GT rather than a thorough-bred track buster. So, the seats could have been more comfortable.

As for the visibility, it is just about right. Forget looking over your shoulders as you will see nothing. Thankfully, the blind spot detectors are given to make your life easier.

Interior Space

It is a 2-seater sports car with boot space big enough to fit in 4 shopping bags. What else were you expecting from such a small car? The legroom is generous in terms of space and one can sit comfortably.

Interior Features

The F-Type has all the gizmos one can throw in a sports car – airbags, infotainment, navigation, blind spot detection, reverse cam, all round sensors, drive select and spoiler deploying button. The main difference between the V6 and V8 is the exhaust button. Yes, the same button found in Porsches that opens up the valves for that thunderous note. Moreover, there is the Meridian sound system in the R as well.

Power & Transmission

This section signifies the difference between the base model and its R variant. The base is powered by a 3.0 liter supercharged V6 producing 340 PS. This makes the car accelerate from 0-100 in 5.3 seconds – which is exactly the same as the claimed figure. Pay 170K more and you can decrease the time by 1 whole second in case of R. Yes, the 550 PS producing 5.0 liter supercharged V8 reaches 100 from a standstill in 4.3s – close to the claimed 4.2s figure. As for the mileage, both the engines give almost the same mileage – 12.7 l/100 km for V6 and 13.7 l/100 km for the V8. 

However, it is the sound which is the deciding factor for me. The V8 R produces a never-stopping roar which feels exciting for the first 15 minutes but then it becomes uneasy. The only way to stop it is to switch to comfort and turn off the ‘loud-exhaust’ mode. The V6 sounds pleasant and only roars when you want it to roar. In my opinion, it is the best sounding V6 engine currently.

As for the transmission, the 8-speed automatic gearbox is smooth on the upshift but lags a little on the downshift with occasional jerking. JLR should look into improving the gear shifts. 

Handling, Suspension & Brakes

There is a significant difference in handling among the 2 cars. The V6 steering gives minimal feedback while turning however the suspension is soft enough to make you feel relaxed while driving. The R on the hand has sharp turning and twitches its tail even on the slightest acceleration – before calming down. However, the suspension is stiff which makes the ride uncomfortable and tiring after long trips. There is definitely a trade-off but an obvious one. So, no complains. Brakes on the other hand, are sublime. The regular ones on the V6 and the ceramics on the R; in both occasions, the car came to a standstill from 100 in 2.9s. This makes me wonder that why should one pay more for the ceramic brakes unless they are keeping the R as a track day car.

Verdict

It all comes down to personal preference. If you want a GT cruiser for road trips with sporty bits here and there then V6 is the option for you. However, if you want a hardcore track day car that is road legal then go for the R version. As for me, I am just glad to have experienced the F-Type and turned heads along the way because, for some unexplainable reason, this car is not that common on UAE roads as one would have expected. C’mon people! The F-Type is worth a look…. or two.

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