Living with the Jaguar F-Type R
Review by Jacob Lerklint
Subsequent to its 2021 facelift, the Jaguar F-Type R Convertible is the most powerful F-Type you can buy. There's no longer an SVR version, with the R taking up the mantle as range-topper, replete with an SVR-level power hike from its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 to 575 metric horsepower - or 567 hp in US units - and 516 lb-ft of torque. Sending these ponies exclusively to a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the two-seater sports car churns out a 0-60 mph dash of 3.5 seconds to put it in an elite category of sports car along with the likes of the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet and Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster. But unlike those models which are relatively new in the grand scheme of things, the F-Type dates back to 2014, making it a proverbial dinosaur in an age of androids. Style, character, and sporting DNA are all core tenets of the F-Type's persona, but just how many lives does this big cat have against a new breed of open-top performance car?
Whereas you once had to buy an SVR to get 567 hp in an F-Type, now it's found in the run-of-the-mill F-Type R. Sadly, so is all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Fortunately, the former is rear-biased, and for the average driver, it will feel RWD in its demeanor. And as far as the latter goes, Jaguar has done a pretty good job of making the eight-speed auto behave intuitively to hang onto gears when you need it to and downshift when required.
The all-wheel grip is needed here as the V8 can be more than just a bit of a handful. But with the extra traction, there's grip in abundance, which helps counter the V8's heaviness over the front axle. Whereas the Porsche 911 is a scalpel, the F-Type R is more of a hammer, hitting hard, hitting fast, and making a big noise while doing so. That's not to say it lacks precision; the steering feel is on point for an electric system, and the front end has bite and changes direction quickly.
But it doesn't feel light on its feet like rivals do, which makes it feel somewhat old school. The suspension does a fair job of absorbing bumps in the tarmac, but larger efforts make their way through to the driver.
When it had a V6, it was a sharper sports car, but now it's a bit of a brute, more akin to an AMG GT Convertible. It's not a grand tourer, but the endless wave of torque makes it equally as enjoyable when you're taking it easy as it is when hustled.
An old car isn't always a bad car, and the F-Type family proves that despite nearly a decade on the clock, there's value to be had. Yes, it's expensive and doesn't provide the performance one would expect with such headline power outputs, but it's what we'd deem an experiential car. When you walk out to the garage and open the door, your heart skips a beat taking in the curves. When you fire up the engine, the hair on the back of your neck stands up. When you dip it into a corner, there's a meatiness to the steering.
This review of the new Jaguar F-Type R Convertible can be summed up in two words: imperfectly perfect. It has flaws - like a cramped interior, odd infotainment, small trunk, or thirsty V8 (even by V8 standards) - but it has character. And that makes it memorable. You'll likely never forget the car that never set a tire wrong but was too perfect. But you'll never forget the Jaguar F-Type. The 2023 F-Type R Convertible is a modern artwork that sounds like a roaring lion and tickles the senses in more ways than one. We just wish Jaguar would find a way to keep its soul and put it into something a little more modern.
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