Jaguar hasn’t been “Jaguar” since the days of the Vanden Plas near the turn of the century, before the company was sold and sold again, with each parent company trying their own techniques to revive the brand.
The Vanden Plas days are long gone along with dial-up, the flip phone and $800 a month Brooklyn rent.
But in the midst of the company’s continued attempts to capture market share of SUVs, electrics and sedans, their F-Type stands alone as a ferociously satisfying, well-made screamer.
I test-drove this car for a week and during that week, was pretty much in it all the time, day and night, in Manhattan, Westchester and Monticello, in temperatures as low as 18 degrees with the top down, the heater blasting and a ski hat perched on my newly-buzzed dome.
Produced by Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) technical center, my F-Type housed a 5.0 V8 twin vortex, supercharged 575-horsepower SVR engine that rocketed me from 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds, with a reported top speed of 200 MPH. Its last significant design tweak was in 2018, where buyers got added LED headlights, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, a backup camera and an upgraded InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, all good things for a fast, sharp little looker like this.
Options galore abound, such as available matte finishes in 18 shades, or 20-inch wheels in a carbon-ceramic brake package. Jaguar dumped the manual transmission trim some time ago, and that’s a pity, but it’s also the way things are going in the industry overall as it continues with both its electric revolution and younger buyers’ stated wish for automatics. One deals.
The F-Type SVR starts $126,700 and my tester included a $2,550 extended leather interior package and carbon ceramic brake kit for another $12,240.
Total, loaded? $151,510 and worth every penny unless you’re a hardcore track rat, in which case you’ll want to keep options open as the F-Type has been reportedly bested speedwise by others in its price range such as, say, Porsche’s 718 Cayman.
It’s a tight squeeze inside even for an average-height and weight guy like myself, but that’s not unusual for sportsters.
There is a coupe available – the convertible adds between $2,400 and $3,100 to the price – but you’ll want the flop-top so you can really ingest that buttery engine roar and “blort” when you smash the accelerator, and you’ll smash frequently.
You’ll also want the available high-beam assist, Climate 1 package (dual-zone climate zone, heated steering wheel, heated windshield), switchable exhaust system, and blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Not every ride is going to be a balls-out speed-fest and you’ll need these comforts during the inevitable work slog, traffic jam or picking up the kid after practice in your pajamas.
The trunk is pretty chintzy – you and your date, your significant other or Mom will probably have to pack one suitcase for both of you to squeeze everything in back there, as there is almost no storage up front.
All F-types come standard with a 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and there are, happily, plenty of charging ports and outlets such as two USB ports and a 12-volt plug-in.
There’s a lot the F-Type can do, and plenty it can’t. But if you’re shopping for a unique-looking, fast little sportster that doesn’t look like every other car on the road, this is your baby.
