Thursday 27th March 2014

Chris Harris video: F-Type Coupe

Having driven the protoype, Monkey gets his hands on the real thing; does it deliver?

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Were you aware that Jaguar had launched a new coupe? Amazing how silent the specialist media has been on the subject!

Well, I think we can allow ourselves a small dose of patriotic (Indian funded) joy, because the F Type Coupe R is a corker. There are not many cars of its, er, type I would rather live with on a daily basis. A 991 Turbo is way faster, but which would you rather see as the garage door closed after the journey home? Ian Callum deserves a knighthood for the shape.

Time was limited, so we had to stick with one version, the 5-litre supercharged V8. Many people think that in the convertible, the smaller supercharged V6 is the sweeter package, but I much prefer the big V8 in that and see no reason why you wouldn't want the full 550hp with the hardtop. This is not a delicate sports car, it's a thug.

The circuit, whose name I couldn't remember in the heat-of-battle is called Motorland, in a place called Aragon, two hours south west of Barcelona. The drive there is worth the trip alone; the circuit is possibly the best 'new' venue I've driven. Gradients, fast corners and a downhill, 180mph straight in its most open configuration.

So I likes the F Type Coupe R. We'll back-to-back it with a 991 to see how it fares soon enough, but even if the Porsche has the slight dynamic advantage I suspect it will, I'm not sure it really matters. Some cars feel and look so right, they only need to drive acceptably to work as a package. The F Type Coupe R's talents far exceed that marker. I'll have mine in dark blue please.

Enjoy the vid.

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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: 1,665kg
MPG: 25.5mpg (claimed)
CO2: 259g/km
Price: £85,000 (£79,950)

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

[King Steffy]

Hey....Nice but still aint nicer than my old 98 black XJR : )

[cheddar]

Thankyou Chris, informed and fun as always.

[Carl_Docklands]

Altogether a rather spiffing video.

[SaqibCTR]

DAT ASS!

Good video, enjoyed it.

[milu]

Good vid.
Proper car! I need a better job or else wait a few years to have one.

[vescaegg]

It really is quite unbelievably beautiful isnt it!

[gforceg]

I saw one in Exeter today. Very smart.

[AlisterOliver]

"The 911 is very weak right now" Such words will make zee Germans mad at zu Ing-lesh.

[kambites]

Great to hear that it's such a good car - it's about time someone tried to take on the 911 and didn't get thoroughly thrashed.

[Beefmeister]

Dear sweet Odin's raven, I think the F-Type Coupe has turned me into one of those people who wants to have sex with a car.

[RacerMike]

Excellent review Monkey......good to hear you think it's a whole new thing too! :P I'm very much in love with the R Coupe.

[ellipsis]

A very high quality production...

The Jag (and its a.r.s.e. ) was ok too I suppose

Do agree about the interior, though

[philmots]

Awesome car..

Great vid, I never really want them to end.!

[ILoveMondeo]

Want one very very much!

[Lordbenny]

Another whole new thing?

[BullyB]

"The 911 is very weak right now"

Looking forward to the EVO test

[llyrowenjones]

What a noise! Good lord.

[BBS-LM]

Hell yeah, I will have some of that?

[J4CKO]

XK, lovely as it is/was, this makes it look a bit tame and Golf oriented, this is so desirable, so much better looking than the 911 it is unreal.

[TTmonkey]

Great video.... I'd buy it over Porsche on that.