Wednesday 20th November 2013

Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Official

Finally, officially, Jaguar F-Type Coupe unveiled with 550hp V8 R leading the charge

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Golfers rejoice - the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe has a 407-litre boot with, it's claimed, room for two sets of sticks. You'd be lucky to fit a snooker cue in the boot of the Convertible so given many of the target market are likely more interested in manicured green lawns than they are green baize this is probably good news.

The least dramatic transition from concept ever

There are a few other stats you may be interested in now that official information about the new coupe F-Type has been confirmed after a glitzy unveiling event ahead of an official debut at the LA Auto Show.

Like the fact the range-topping F-Type Coupe V8 R offers 550hp for £85,000. Or that the 380hp V6 S, positioned neatly between the Carrera 2 and 2 S, costs at least £10K less than the very cheapest 911 you could conceivably buy. Indeed, both V6 models undercut their Convertible equivalents by a hearty £7,265 each, the base V6 starting at £51,235 and the S £60,235.

And with that we've pulled the pin on another round of F-Type price comparisons that should keep General Gassing humming for a good few weeks to come, while scratching our chins at the continuing conundrum of exactly what the Jag is pitched against.

We'll leave that one with you for the time being and instead concentrate on the car itself, which looks rather lovely. But then with all the leaks, spy shots and sightings at roundabouts in the Midlands over the last few months is probably the least surprising thing about the F-Type Coupe. That it also addresses two major concerns about the roadster - namely price and that pitiful luggage space - is a pleasant surprise, especially for those who consider coupe versions more befitting their powerfully built stature and mindset.

A serious British 911 challenger? Possibly...

That's underlined by the fact Jaguar has chosen to make the flagship V8 a proper R version, with a headline power output and bully boy swagger to frighten the most powerful of 911s and ask serious questions of Aston Vantages along the way. Given that the only soft thing about the existing V8 S Convertible was its roof and most who experienced its 500hp considered it the scary side of lairy an extra 50hp and 42lb ft of torque seem borderline excessive. In a good way.

Attempting to make sense of that 10 per cent power increase on the R s a second-generation version of Jaguar's Electronic Active Differential and JLR's 'torque vectoring by braking' system. The theory goes that by nipping the brakes on the inside wheel turn-in is improved and understeer negated while the diff maximises traction and power on the way out with all the systems working in partnership to get you round the corner faster. Who are we trying to kid though. All the electronic gizmos in the world aren't going to be able to contain the inner hooligan for long and any saving over Astons and Porsches may well be going up in (tyre) smoke before you can say 'stability control off'.

That's as per the Convertible too of course. Meanwhile black boxes controlling the Adaptive Dynamics damping have also been tweaked for the R Coupe while spring rates have been raised slightly (4.3 per cent front and 3.7 per cent rear) too.

Hopefully room for more than just your packed lunch

Jaguar is making a big play about the stiffness of the coupe's aluminium structure, this and the beefed up chassis meaning the R should definitely tick all the boxes marked 'more manly', 'hairy chested', 'not for wusses' and the like. Ready to kick sand in the faces of any Porsche unfortunate enough to cross its path, cars like the F-Type R Coupe and Aston Martin V12 Vantage S prove we Brits haven't lost our appetite for building gloriously overpowered and stylish coupes. Indeed, the only car that really comes close to the F-Type's bang for buck quota is the Corvette Stingray, due in Europe next year and starting at a little over 60-grand. The job of those looking to revive TVR as the rightful home of over endowed British beef has suddenly got a lot trickier too.

With all this testosterone in the air the more nuanced appeal of the V6 models is in danger of being overshadowed but, as in the case of the Convertible, it's probably here where the sweet spot of the F-Type Coupe range lies.

The base V6 is more than rapid enough to be entertaining and comes with 18-inch wheels as standard, the S gaining 19s, Dynamic Mode, Dynamic Launch, a sports exhaust, the active Adaptive Dampers and a mechanical limited-slip diff. Like the R it's also available with carbon ceramic brakes, an option now also extended to equivalent versions of the Convertible.

There's lots to drink in visually in the F-Type Coupe's looks too, those muscular flanks (pressed from a single sheet of aluminium), blade-like LEDs and pinched windowline all looking suitably stunning under the lights of the LA show hall.

Appetites suitably whetted it's out on the road we want to see it now. Finally freed of its prototype 'disguise' and convoy of following PHers with smartphones excitably pressed against their windscreens...

To read the full press release click here.

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Full specs:

JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE
Engine: 2,995cc, V6, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340hp@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332lb ft@3,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.3sec
Top speed: 161mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 1,577kg (1,597kg)
MPG: 32.1 (31.4mpg)
CO2: 205g/km (209g/km)
Price: £51,235 (£58,500)

JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPEV6 S
Engine: 2,995cc, V6, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 380hp@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 339lb ft@3,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.9sec
Top speed: 171mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 1,594kg (1,614kg)
MPG: 31.0mpg
CO2: 213g/km
Price: £60,235 (£67,500)

JAGUAR F-TYPE COUPE V8 R
Engine: 5,000cc, V8, supercharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@6,500 (495hp@6,500rpm)
Torque (lb ft): 502@2,500 (460lb ft@3,500rpm)
0-62mph: 4.0sec (4.3sec)
Top speed: 186mph (electronically limited)
Weight: 1665kg
MPG: 25.5mpg (claimed)
CO2: 259g/km
Price: £85,000 (£79,950)

Figures in brackets for equivalent Convertible; all weights quoted 'from' by Jaguar

 

 

[Hitch78]

Beautiful looking thing.

[yorky500]

Agree, lovely.

[The Vambo]

Knockout looks and 5 seconds to 60 all for 50K. The V6 coop looks like the pick of the range.

[Cacatous]

Baseline V6 with aftermarket 'Tubi' when one becomes available.

Does the hatch side open or standard roof hinged?

Edited by Cacatous on Wednesday 20th November 05:25

[Hellbound]

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCmsfhAvcyo#t=85

[TobyLaRohne]

OOH YES! In British Racing Green with a body coloured roof please, that is a VERY good looking car!

[Ved]

Well. That's quite beautiful. I do hope it's reliable after three years and 40k miles because I would be very happy with a V6S

[CedricN]

I was just besides an Ftype V8 revving with open exhaust flaps, Oh my, how can that sound even be legal? Started alarms and kids where scared (it was indoor in an exhibition hall ). That sound in a coupe and the baby aston is now complete, I wonder who is the fastest though ?

[m7a]

Beautiful! I'd take that over a 991.

[vescaegg]

That is stunning. The V8 must sound incredible.

[bobberz]

The V8 Vantage is officially irrelevant (though the V12 V is something special)!

As I've said before, the exhaust on the V8S probably would exceed the decibel limits on most race tracks; I'm stunned (and elated!) that it's somehow legal for the road. Anyone who hasn't yet driven one needs to post-haste! The sound is truly among the best sounding production engines ever.

Going by the V8S roadster I drove earlier this year, the R should have acceleration on-par with the Starship Enterprise. It's really a dragster as much as it is a sports car.

[Deerfoot]

m7a said:

Beautiful! I'd take that over a 991.

I love the 991 but that really looks great, even in white.

[Urban Sports]

For the first time ever I'd rather have the coupe than the drop top, simply stunning!

[Phil Dicky]

Stunning car Jaguar are really on a roll at the moment

[DRodgers]

Just wait until you hear the R, supercharger whine is back with a vengeance...

[tuffer]

That is the first time in a while that I have bothered to read an entire press release or article, serious challenger to a 991 as a replacement for my current car.

[camshafted]

People at Aston Martin are going to be weeping this morning.

[DRodgers]

Hellbound posted it, your gonna need a subwoofer to truly appreciate that noise, I think I've finally found an alarm tone I'd be happy to hear... Got to love Jag right now, to have the cahoonas to build a car so beautiful sound so so so rude... Can't wait for Harris to throw this about

[spiritof'76]

Sexy motor

[timothymcn]

My god... the noise is just unbelievably good in the unveiling video for the R. I know it's a cliched complaint, but wouldn't this gorgeous, raucous, emotional machine be more fun with a manual?