Has Jaguar tamed the beast by bestowing all-wheel drive upon the F-Type?

Earthly Pleasures

It’s suave and sexy, it’s sleek and muscular, it roars like something that hasn’t eaten in a month. It’s a jungle cat. But not the type you’d find on the National Geographic channel. This is the new Jaguar F-Type R AWD Coupé, Jag’s new flagship F-Type. And it’s going to set you back just R 1, 744 900.

Well, Hello, Gorgeous!

On looks alone, the F-Type scores serious points. It’s more seductive than a Hawaiian pizza to a Banting dieter. Its gentle, rounded curves and feline “eyes” set hearts of bystanders and potential passengers aflutter.

It is so understatedly elegant, and at the same time so smoulderingly hot, that I found it difficult to contain myself when I saw it waiting for me in the parking lot. It felt like Christmas had come early. At AutoTrader, we drive many special cars. But this ferocious little kitten, with a 5.0-litre V8 engine and a bright red interior, will awaken the 17-year old rebellious teenager in everyone. It is simply sublime, and it has all of the intoxicating power one would need to get over any major disappointment in your life really quickly.

Scandalous & Sinful

Open those coupé doors and you will find an interior so beautifully finished your heart will just sigh with delight. Those rounded, almost art deco-like curves are repeated in leather on the inside, and in red it looks utterly decadent. The inside is not terribly roomy, so I can’t imagine a scrumhalf and his lumberjack buddy sitting inside it, so yes, it has a certain female appeal. (But this specific model will probably be wasted on the non-driving enthusiast, so it might be best to go for the entry-level F-Type Coupé from R916 100, or Convertible, from R933 400.)  A new touch screen dominates the centre stack, and from here all vehicle settings can be controlled, as well as the F-Type’s driving dynamics. Blingy bits and other finishes are impeccable.

All Wheels Driven

You can tell that its all-wheel drive by the lettering of course, but if you look at the slightly more bulging bonnet, you’d realize it has additional AWD hardware underneath it. But isn’t it sacrilegious of Jaguar to tame this wild little number with an all- wheel drive system?  Other F-Types are rear-wheel driven, but it turns out that this supercharged -405 kW engine’s power needs to be harnessed somewhat, so that none of the F-Type’s enthusiastic tail-wagging gets you into any real trouble. You see, in all-wheel drive guise, the F-Type is quite forgiving. Flattering even. You really can take those corners with (sensible) reckless abandonment, applying some throttle quite soon as you exit. The front tyres stick to the tarmac like week-old chewing gum.

With more poise and flair than a Romanian Olympic gymnast, the F-Type will keep itself perfectly in check, but without being clinical or boring. The AWD system isn’t in 4-wheel drive mode permanently. The system senses where torque is needed and will switch between the front and the rear when necessary, but mostly it’s in the rear. Torque Vectoring is also standard feature which senses impending understeer, and will provide braking on the inside rear wheel while feeding torque to the outside rear wheel to keep the F-Type’s regal nose on the straight and narrow. This all forms part of Jaguar’s Intelligent Driveline Dynamics.

In wet weather conditions the F-Type shines, and even if you go full throttle from standstill, it won’t result in wheel-spin. This system comes at a cost of around 80 kg of added weight. But you’d have to be a pro, to really feel the extra kilos in the handling.  And there’s no fault to find in the eight-speed auto box, nor in the new electrical power steering, which strikes the perfect balance between precision and comfort.

Aural Pleasure

I’m no hooligan, but in the centre stack there’s a little switch with a picture that may be mistaken for a pair of flying glasses. It is called the Switchable Active Exhaust (available if you select the optional Active Sports Exhaust) and it allows you to control the exhaust system’s bypass valves so the big cat’s growl is amplified to an aggressive roar, or bark, almost. I had the radio off and the window opened a crack at all times, to fully enjoy the involving exhaust note. It is the most inspiring cacophony you’ll ever hear.  Who needs the fancy 12 Speaker Meridian Surround Sound system when you can listen to the F-Type snap, crackle and pop? (Well, since it’s a standard feature…)

Everyday (Im)practicality

A long-legged friend (of 1.85 metres) was keen to sit in the driver’s seat, so I reluctantly let her. She moved the electrically adjustable performance seat right to the back, and only just felt comfortable.
“But how will I get out with a nice pair of heels in a sexy dress?” she asks, pointing to the high side sills with a sandaled toe.
“Well, you’re not supposed to drive in heels. It’s dangerous. You should keep a pair of flat pumps in the glove compartment”, I say.
“But what if I’ve changed into my heels, and I want to get out? It won’t be very lady-like, will it?”
I get in, and then I step out, exerting some effort swinging my legs over, with knees decently pressed together.
“Well, that takes a lot of core strength”, she remarks.
“Elzette”, I say, “this car is for a trophy wife, who will probably have six-pack abs. I don’t think core strength will be a problem for her.”

It will probably take some practice getting in and out without giving members of the general population a glimpse of your frilly undies. Maybe it will be in everyone’s best interest to stick to trousers. And since there is only one seat next to the driver’s, you’d better be careful as to whom you pick as your passenger. As for boot space? The lack of a rear bench results in 407 litres of useable space, if you remove the Space Saver spare wheel. The tailgate is of the electrically powered variety, available as an option. Other necessary creature comforts in a car of this stature, include an optional parking pack which comprises front sensors and a rear-view camera to prevent awful dents and scratches.

Should you buy one for the mistress, and yourself?

This ultra-powerful F-Type is a guilty pleasure, which you will pay for dearly, every month. But it is so joyous and thrilling that you’ll also drive away the blues every time you get behind the wheel. As it turns out, there really is no replacement for displacement!

Facts & Figures

Base Price	: R 1 744 900
Engine	: 8 cylinder, 5.0 litre supercharged petrol
Power	: 405 kW
Torque	: 680 Nm
Top speed	: 300 km
0 to 100 km/h	: 3.8 - 4.1 seconds
Fuel tank	: 70 litres
Realistic fuel consumption	: +/- 12 litres per 100 km’s (combined)
Boot size	: 407 litres
Also consider	: BMW M6

For the full list of standard and optional specifications, please go to www.jaguar.co.za