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.
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
