THROTTLE WIDE & SAY R (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 90

The Jaguar F-TYPE R brought some big guns to the sports car sector, with a 550PS supercharged 5.0-litre V8 under the bonnet and a clever Electronic Active Differential to transmit all that torque to the tarmac, along with the option of AWD. There were both Coupe and Convertible body style choices and, either way, this car will bludgeon its way to 62mph in just 4.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of nearly 190mph. If you can afford one of these, then quite an experience is in store.

Modelsword count: 8

2dr coupe / convertible (5.0 V8 supercharged petrol)

Historyword count: 240

Jaguar used to make some great sportscars and in this century's second decade, it still did. If you doubt that, then here's one you need to drive, the F-TYPE R. When new, it sold for the kind of money you'd have needed to buy a top-level Porsche 911 Carrera S, which made it seem quite expensive for those whose perception of an F-TYPE was of something more Porsche Cayman-like. Caymans though, were targeted by V6-powered F-TYPE models. This V8 version was a very different proposition, offering more than 50% more power and torque than its lesser stablemate. With 550PS on tap and a thrilling soundtrack from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8, it was well capable of taking on really exotic sportscars from its era like Aston Martin's V8 Vantage and the Maserati GT. On that basis, you could even argue that, whether you select this car either as a Convertible or in fixed-top Coupe form, it's actually reasonable value. Most potential buyers though, will probably be cross-shopping against that Porsche 911 model we mentioned earlier and for them, Jaguar's decision to add AWD as an option on this model (in 2015, two years after launch) helped to cement this F-TYPE's position as a credible rival to the Stuttgart brand. By the time of this model's facelift in 2018, AWD was a standard fitment on this top R model. The F-TYPE R sold until Jaguar pulled out of the market in 2024.

What You Getword count: 763

'Engaging, precise, intuitive and alive - the definitive sports coupe'. That's the way that Jaguar described the coupe version of this car and for once, the marketing rhetoric wasn't too far from the mark, underlining the Coventry company's determination to go its own way and offer something different. As with the Convertible model, the F-TYPE shape was an interesting one, defined by what were described as 'heartlines'. Get beyond the muscular clamshell bonnet with its signature power bulge then turn your attention to the bold, angular Jaguar front grille and you'll pick up the first of these in the blade dissecting the shark-like gills that dominate both front corners of the car. It's a crease that runs along the top of the wing, defining its shape, then flowing on into the door before gracefully disappearing rearwards. Here you pick up a second heartline which swells out to form the muscular rear haunch, before sweeping dramatically around a sharply proportioned tail section emphasised by wraparound LED lamps and an active rear spoiler that raises at 70mph, then lowers to fit flush when the speed drops below 50mph. The F-TYPE R was further distinguished by its gloss black front vanes, flat side sill extensions and aluminium window trim. It's the third heartline though, that really defines the distinctive look of the Coupe body style. You've got a dramatic, cabin-rearward, sweeping roof profile. Providing an unbroken silhouette, it aims to highlight the visual drama of the tapered cabin nestled between the powerful rear haunches. There's also a lovely aluminium-finished side window graphic that's there to accentuate the compactness of the car and the roof profile. The visual changes made to the improved model as part of the 2020 update were significant, centring mostly on a front end that was embellished by super-slim pixel LED headlights that blended into the 'liquid metal' surfacing' of the restyled clamshell bonnet with its signature power bulge. There was also a smarter front bumper and a subtly enlarged grille that together aimed to deliver more visual impact and presence. The alternative Convertible version has a multi-layered fabric hood with a thick Thinsulate lining to make it waterproof, with a powered mechanism that takes just 12 seconds to operate. At the rear as part of this update, the slender tail lights were revised, featuring an LED chicane signature inspired by the Jaguar I-PACE. It's certainly very firmly driver-orientated inside, the two front occupants separated by a prominent grab handle which sweeps down from the top of the centre console and wraps around behind the joystick-shaped SportShift gear selector. The main change with the revised model lay with the replacement of conventional analogue instrument binnacle dials with a configurable, high-definition 12.3-inch 'Interactive Driver Display' screen. It can be set to display either conventionally with two virtual dials - or with a single large rev counter. Alternatively, you can prioritise the display of Media or Drive Assistance features - or have the screen show full GPS mapping. Not so good is the fact that as part of the 2018 facelift, the central infotainment screen wasn't updated to the newer 'Pivi Pro' system that by then, other new Jaguar models were featuring. But this F-TYPE's older-tech 10-inch 'Touch Pro' display could as part of this update be had with 'Apple CarPlay' or 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring; even so, even back in 2018 it felt rather dated. Still, it includes most of the features you'll need, including a 'Connected Navigation Pro' set-up and a very decent Meridian Sound System. You can forgive this car a lot for the way its classy cabin combines traditional Jaguar craftsmanship with rich, contemporary materials such as Windsor Leather and satin-finish Noble Chrome. Beautiful details include monogram stitch patterns in the seats and door trims, Jaguar Leaper motifs in the headrests, and subtle 'Jaguar Est.1935' markings on the centre console finisher, glovebox release button surround, and seatbelt guides. We also approve of the small diameter, three-spoke leather-trimmed wheel. And a really lovely touch lies with the deployable front air vents that rise impressively from the centre of the fascia when you need upper cabin air. You don't get any rear seats, but the boot is relatively big, giving the F-TYPE Coupe genuine GT potential. You'll get 315-litres in up to the parcel shelf and 407-litres to the window line. Of course, should you have opted for the Convertible version of this car, you'd have to readjust your expectations on luggage capacity. With that body style, you get only 196-litres of capacity, but at least that's unaffected by the position of the roof.

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