Living with the Jaguar F-Type
Review by Jacob Lerklint.
The Jaguar F-Type first came out in 2013 and has since introduced us with several engine variations both in coupé and convertible models. There has been four cylinders, six cylinders and V8’s with different outputs. Late 2019 Jaguar decided to give the F-Type a major refresh and reduce the engines to a base 4 cylinder and V8’s dropping the V6 F-Type and the optional manual gearbox. Just a couple of days ago jaguar announced they are dropping the four cylinder engine too, making the base F-Type now a V8! And that’s the one I’ve been driving and testing for the last week, more precisely I have been driving the P450 in AWD form. As the name suggests, the P450 comes with 450hp. It basically uses the same supercharged five liter V8 that has been with JLR for over 10 years now. The P450 starts with RWD but you can option for AWD as this car is. Your only gearbox choice is the 8-speed ZF which has been with us forever but remains one of the best automatic gearboxes.
The new facelifted F-type has a new controversial front and very different headlights, changing it up quite a bit from the previous car. The pre-facelifted car has always been a looker and in my opinion one of the prettiest cars the last decade. I wasn’t too sure about the new frontend, in pictures I still think the previous F-Type looks better but having lived with this facelifted car for a week, the looks has definitely grown on me. Stepping into the new F-Type you’ll notice there’s now a digital 12.3 inch instrument cluster which you can configure in many various settings, other than that the interior is basically the same as the previous F-Type except some slightly better materials. You still get some surprisingly cheap plastics in places like the inner door-handles and on several buttons.
The P450 starts at a smidge under 1.1 million SEK for the RWD, add about 70.000 SEK if you want AWD. The range topping F-Type R with a 125hp gain starts at just under 1.5 million SEK. The F-Type is known for its ability to produce amazing exhaust noises, the singing V6 or the anti-social muscle-car sound of the V8’s. The trademark sound of the F-Type is important and for many one of the biggest selling points. With all the EU regulations we knew the new F-type was going to have a gas particulate filter and possibly take away the main character; the noise of the F-Type. So has it? Well thankfully not entirely but the brutal sound and crackle & pops of the old car is gone. You get an active exhaust with valves but it’s basically quiet under 3.500rpms. After that the V8 opens up a little bit.
First thing you’ll notice driving the F-Type is the immediate throttle response, it encourages you to speed up. Driving in town you’ll might want to have it in normal mode to calm it down. But in dynamic mode on long wide open roads is where the F-Type feels most at home, 450hp and 580nm from the five liter supercharged V8 is plenty; but remember this engine can produce a lot more than that. With the AWD you get traction pretty much everywhere at anytime, you can however have some sideways fun if you turn the traction control all the way off. It’s very predictable at the limit even though you don’t get a lot of feedback from the steering. The new springs and dampers work absolutely brilliant, it’s firm but never uncomfortable. You can’t really feel the 1650kg weight other than on the very limit. Its reasonably light compared to some of its competitors. 0-100kmh comes in at 4.6 seconds and if you don’t let off the throttle pedal, you will reach a top speed of 285kmh. When you want to slow down from that, you get 380mm front discs and slightly smaller rear brakes.
Granted, this is also a GT car so you will want to bring some bags with you on your trip, you get a pretty decent sized 509 liter boot. Not bad but storage inside the car is pretty rubbish. The 10 inch touchscreen infotainment system could use an update. And yes, it includes Apple car-play and android auto but the system itself is slow and dimwitted. You also can’t see the screen when it’s too bright outside because of the glare. However, you may want to tick the option for panoramic glass roof, it helps a lot with making the interior less claustrophobic. The new F-type isn’t a game changer, it’s old-fashioned, technology lacking and rather pricey but all that doesn’t matter when you know you still get to enjoy a V8 in 2021 when so many manufacturers downsize and electrify. Good work Jaguar for making the base F-Type a V8 and overall an incredible sports car.
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