Car of the week: October 23rd – Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

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  • Luxury motor: Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.

    Available from:

    Al Tayer Motors Dubai 800 668677
    Premier Motors Abu Dhabi 02 691 7000

    There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought Jaguar was flirting with extinction but the brilliant XKR made an impact and the big cat continued to prowl the performance car sector, although it was still far from king of the jungle.

    Then came the F-Type convertible. This was Jaguar beginning to really bare its teeth again and the F-Type rightly earned many accolades: it looks good, sounds great and the V8 is a stonking bit of kit.

    But if you thought that car was as good as it gets, then think again because the F-Type R Coupe sets a whole new benchmark.
    At last, Jaguar have unleashed a wild cat worthy of the name. It will sink its claws into you and once it does, there is no escape; you will, I guarantee, be smitten.

    There were some excellent Jaguars in a bygone era but, in recent memory, this is the best Jaguar ever built. It is a proper sports car, offering a raw, yet sophisticated driving experience that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

    Aesthetically, it is a dynamic masterpiece – small, but perfectly formed. The front is dominated with the dark mesh grille with the Jaguar motif and shark-gill intakes on either side. The sides of the car are made from a single piece of aluminium which means there are no panels and cosmetic joints which creates the smooth, yet dramatic, effect of the design. 

    The roof is available in aluminium or panoramic glass and it flows perfectly into the rear which is exquisitely designed with a clear nod to the iconic Jaguar E-type.

    A rear spoiler folds neatly into the tailgate and rises automatically at 112kmh and folds away when the speed drops below 80kmh. 

    It sits on 20-inch wheels which complete a hugely appealing aggressive stance. 

    The interior is compact and entirely focused on the driver with extremely supportive leather performance seats, high quality leather trims, and contrast heavy stitching.  It also has a dark-weave aluminium trim on the centre-console which looks a bit like carbon fibre.

    There is a flat-bottom steering wheel, although you can have a normal round one as an option, and the instrument cluster is simple but effective with a good infotainment system operated via an eight-inch touch screen on the dash. 

    The R also comes with a configurable dynamic mode which remaps the software, sharpens up the throttle response, stiffens the suspension and ups the ante with the speed of the gear-shifts.

    So, we have a car that looks the business both inside and out but does it deliver on the performance front? Oh, yes! The whole experience starts as soon as you press the ignition button and fire up that magnificent five-litre supercharged V8 which barks into life. Select dynamic mode, push the button which opens the exhaust valves and this Jaguar is ready to strike.

    The noise that comes from this car is ridiculously good as you push through the eight-speed ‘Quickshift’ gearbox which transfers the awesome 540bhp to the rear wheels, giving this car a 0-100kmh time of 4.2 seconds. 

    Acceleration is incredibly responsive and the handling of this machines is truly impressive. Because it is built of aluminium it is light yet extremely rigid. 

    It has Jaguar’s second-generation Electronic Active Differential, which works in parallel with Torque Vectoring which increases agility and precision. 

     I drove the car around the technical south circuit at Yas Marina  and although I never got close to pushing it to the limits it handled impeccably and I can say, without hesitation, this is the best Jaguar I have ever driven. I want one.

    Specifications
    Manufacturer :
    Jaguar
    Production : 2013 onwards
    Class : Sports car
    Body style : Two-seater
    Layout : Rear wheel drive
    Engine : 5-litre twin turbo V8
    Output : 540bhp
    Torque : 680nm
    0-100km : 4.2 seconds
    Transmission : 8-speed auto with paddle-shifts
    Kerb weight : 1,650kg
    Top speed : 300kmh
    Price : From Dh459,000

    Verdict: This is the most impressive car I have driven for a long time. Jaguar have finally produced something really special to compete with the best performance coupes out there. The R is remarkable from a performance and engineering point of view and it will give the outstanding Porsche 911 S a run for its money.

    Rating: 9.5/10

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