MOTORING
A FINAL FLING FOR THE JAGUAR F-TYPE
For those who appreciate iconic finesse , now is the time to buy says Kyle Fortune
Alast hurrah for Jaguar ’ s sports car , the F-Type ! This overt manifestation of piston-powered indulgence is bowing out as Jaguar re-invents itself for the brave new world of electrification .
The F-Type arrived little over a decade ago , immediately impressing , and since then Jaguar has added plenty of upgrades and comprehensive styling and technical revisions to keep it up with its rivals . That will stop soon , with the company ’ s 75 years of building sports cars halting as it embraces electrification by 2025 .
If you ’ ve always promised yourself a new Jaguar sports car , now is the time to indulge yourself . A beautiful British alternative to it ' s predominantly German rivals , the F-Type has always fought hard to over-deliver , with performance equal to and often better than its key rivals . A two-seater , whether you ’ ve got a fixed head over you or a soft-top in convertible guise , the F-Type is undoubtedly a head turner .
It ’ s also an engaging and enjoyable drive – whatever model you choose . In its final form the range isn ’ t quite as expansive as it has been previously , but what is possible is very alluring indeed . The F-Type P300 RWD R-Dynamic is the access point to the line-up . It ’ s powered by a 300hp , turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels via an automatic transmission . Its powertrain enables 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds in both coupé and convertible choices .
Quick , capable and engaging as the rear-wheel-drive P300 is , it ’ s difficult to ignore the F-Type 75 P450 RWD . It ups the power to 450hp via a supercharged V8 engine , providing more prodigious power and a brisker 4.6-second 0-62mph time into the mix . The bigger V8 is more indulgent and expressive , adding searing pace to the chassis sophistication of the P300 , with fine dynamic ability and plentiful power .
Above the P450 F-Type 75 is the F-Type R 75 . Its supercharged V8 increases its output to a heady 575hp . Helping exploit that is the addition of all-wheel drive – the additional power and traction instrumental in dropping the 0-62mph time to just 3.7 seconds and giving this final series of Jaguar ’ s sports car supercar even more power and performance .
In all , the cockpit is richly finished and usefully specified , with the V8 cars adding adaptive suspension for sharpened dynamic ability . All F-Types come with 20-inch alloy wheels and a Meridian sound system that ’ s only second in sound output to the glorious supercharged V8 .
Jaguar ’ s petrol sports car might not be much longer for this world but as a celebration of Jaguar ’ s history – and the combustion engine – there ’ s arguably no more fitting a send-off .
The Jaguar F-Type is priced from £ 62,380 for the F-Type R-Dynamic coupé . To arrange a test drive contact Hendy Jaguar .
02382 556402 | www . hendyjaguar . co . uk
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