1. It is the spiritual successor to the E-Type...
...and a design icon of note. Since its launch at the 2012 Paris motor show, the F-Type has been raking in the awards - over 178 of them in total, with the last one being Performance Car of the Year category (at the prestigious Honest John Awards) in the United Kingdom. Other titles include 2013 World Car Design of the Year.
Ian Callum, the company's now ex-Director of Design, said: “No design project has given me greater pleasure than the creation of the F-TYPE. It’s a project I’ve looked forward to from the moment I joined Jaguar, and it’s one that’s given my team and I great satisfaction. The F-TYPE is a sports car that is true to Jaguar’s design values – beauty of line and purity of form..."
The jurors agreed: “The F-TYPE exterior maintains Jaguar’s own elegance in its horizontal proportion and rounded surfaces, yet it looks very dynamic... the interior design is even more attractive. It is clearly driver-oriented, and a grip bar for the passenger is nicely integrated into the big centre console. The seat design is superb, too.”
Ian Callum’s replacement, Julian Thomson, has worked closely alongside Callum for the last 18 years. Callum will stay on as Design Consultant so we're quite sure that the transition will be a smooth one. Ian stepped down as Director of Design in the second quarter of 2019.
2. The SVR models are rather fast...
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016, Jaguar showcased the new F-Type SVR. Available as a coupé or convertible (both with all-wheel-drive), it features the same 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine from the V8 S and R, but has a massive 423 kW (at 6 500 rpm) and 700 Nm of torque (at 3 500 - 5 000 rpm). It can sprint from 0–100 km/h in a mere 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 322 km per hour! Read Jaguar F-Type SVR – first Jaguar SVR as new halo model Jaguar sports car (2016), here.
3. It's not as expensive (or thirsty) as you'd imagine, since a new engine was added to the SA lineup in 2017...
A two-litre turbocharged engine in an F-type - an abomination? Well, although driving a sports car with a monster 5-litre supercharged engine is appealing, it's less so when you are concerned with the environment and you'd prefer to limit your car's emissions. The smaller engine also makes the F-Type a lot more affordable, with prices starting from R 1 10 640 for the F-Type Coupé P300 R-Dynamic. (Research and compare the different F-Type models on AutoTrader here.)
Related: Jaguar F-Type 2.0-litre - An Everyday F-Type
"The new model retains the performance expected from the F-TYPE, and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 249km/h. The turbocharged engine’s high maximum torque of 400Nm, generated from just 1,500rpm, together with the eight-speed Quickshift transmission, delivers exceptional response throughout the rev range", says Jaguar.
"Not only is the 221kW Ingenium engine the most powerful four-cylinder unit ever offered in a production Jaguar, it also generates the highest specific power output of any engine in the F-TYPE range: 110kW per litre. It also makes this the most efficient F-TYPE in the range, with a 16 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the 250kW V6..."
4. It is a firm favourite with SA's luxury car-buying public
While not nearly selling in the same numbers as the Ford Mustang, the F-Type did make the top 3 list of the best-selling sports cars of 2018. The Audi TT was in second place, but because Porsche and Mercedes-Benz don't give us their exact sales figures, we can assume they have a large finger in the top-5 pie as well.
5. Chequered Flag Special Edition variants celebrating 70 years of Jaguar sports car heritage are currently available in SA.
"Based on the F-TYPE R-Dynamic Coupé and Convertible, and available with powerful four- and six-cylinder engines, the Chequered Flag features a range of subtle visual enhancements to the exterior and to the driver-focussed “1+1” cabin", says Jaguar.
Power comes from the 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine or the 250kW/450Nm and 280kW/460Nm supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines.
"Highlights include a black contrast roof on the coupé and the luxurious Windsor Leather interior, featuring performance seats with embossed headrests, a dark brushed aluminium centre console trim finisher and – in recognition of Jaguar’s motorsport successes – a steering wheel with discreet chequered flag logo and red leather band to mark the 12 o’clock position."
In Ian Callum's own words: “Perfect proportions, design purity and visual drama – every Jaguar must express these qualities, and none more so than F-TYPE. In creating the Chequered Flag we’ve focused on details which enhance F-TYPE’s presence and promise of performance – and in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70 years of beautiful, fast, Jaguar sports cars.”
Recommended next
Merc SL vs. BMW 8 Sereis vs. Jaguar F-Type infotainment system shoot-out
Mid-cycle refresh for Jag's F-Type...and many more models (2017)
* View: The Long Road to the Jaguar F-Type on Topgear.com, here
Source: Jaguar.com
