The Leopard The F-Type is automotive art. And like other forms of “art,” not everyone gets it. They may not even like it at all, but that’s part of its appeal to those who are truly passionate. It’s never won universal love in the same way. Porsche 911 or BMW M3 maybe, but although a small refresh in 2021Jag has essentially sold the same car for over 10 years with a variety of powertrains, occasionally dabbling in both race and rally cars. Until now. The 2024 F-Type marks the end of an era, and I got an F-Type R 75 version Convertible to play this great game sports car out the door with one last drive.
Importantly, this last drive was in the R with its high-output 5.0-liter supercharged V8. The car that sounded like popcorn is now out of production. V6 turbocharged retains its own charm (and would you believe Jaguar has provided also four cylinder?) but the F-Type is at its best when it has eight cylinders thumping under its clamshell bonnet. Engines tend to define sports cars, and that mantra rings true to the highest degree possible for the F-Type. That’s largely because its V8 is such a dominant force in the driving experience, but also because the rest of the F-Type is a bit underwhelming.
British Hellcat echoed in my head every time I stepped out of this charming sports car. You wouldn’t expect such a freewheeling approach to high-speed driving from its looks, but the F-Type isn’t much happier when forced into more dynamic situations. a hellcat is. It doesn’t hide its weight very well. The chassis rolls and sways more than is comfortable. Worse still, the stiff ride on imperfect country roads further saps confidence and makes it just a mid-sized passenger car.
Still, no one can drive an F-Type R without having a good time, and it’s all thanks to that chaotic V8 masterpiece that growls, howls, crackles and, at times, terrorises the environment. The 0-60 sprint takes just 3.5 seconds, but I hardly care about the numbers when the powertrain is making noises like this.
Every shift of the eight-speed automatic is like a song so beautiful you want to listen to it endlessly. Rev the engine to its 6,500 rpm peak, and the tearing sound of each gear change makes you wonder if it’s about to tear apart the fabric of time itself. The power never stops crescendoing as the supercharger nudges you forward. The ferocious pleasure never lets up a bit when you enter a corner and downshift. Speed spikes with every pull of the paddle, and a series of loud explosions ring out from the angular tips protruding from the diffuser.
Somehow, this exhaust is a toned-down version of what Jaguar shipped before the 2021 refresh. The bang it makes at speed is enough to make pedestrians look up from their phones and stare at the car, perhaps wondering what kind of thug would want such a loud machine. Sorry, folks. I swear it’s genuine.
An engine as special as the one in this F-Type R can make me forgive a lot of faults. Likewise, the flat-plane crankshaft V8 of the a Shelby GT350 has the power to change the mind of any enthusiast about a Wild horse. ONE Giulia or By Stelvio Quadrifoglio The Ferrari V6 engine won me over instantly, despite my concerns about Italian reliability. This F-Type R will win my heart as well, but I’ve never accepted the other missing parts the way many enthusiasts need asterisks.
Unstable and unreliable handling brake The pedals might be part of the complaint, but then the sluggish infotainment and lack of grand touring make the F-Type a one-trick pony. At nearly $120,000 as tested, that’s a lot of trade-offs for a great powertrain. It doesn’t help that Corvette and any quantity Porsche Products can be had for the same price or less, and they don’t come with the same limitations as the Jag.
Ian Callum ended up being the second best argument you could make for parking an F-Type in your garage, as there was no denying the design brilliance he had when it came to this car. It was never a classic. Type EAlthough it’s hard not to think of the classic Jaguar that many consider the most beautiful car ever made, the 2021 refresh may not be Callum’s show, but his influence is still all over the car. Whether you choose the coupe or convertible hardly matters. Both are futuristic, Concours-level designs. “What a beautiful shape and crazy engine,” people will say in 30 years, when the mediocre handling and other concerns have faded with time. The shrinking cabin and small boot are a couple of other criticisms that are unlikely to change, but those are the least of my gripes.
What’s next for Jaguar sports cars won’t be a powerful V8 engine. The new way is electricityenough to give pause when considering the brand’s greatest asset these days is its engines. The new era of Jag is also coming without the steady hand of Ian Callum, who has led the design and crafted cars that are beautiful enough to overlook some of their inherent flaws.
Those who have an F-Type in their garage today and in the future will hold the keys to one of the most exciting British sports cars to drive on a Sunday ever made. The low production numbers – Jaguar sells 1,000-3,000 a year, apart from a few years of 4,000 – will make the car rare. And the lucky few who will with SVR The garage contains the most special keys.
The F-Type R 75 Edition I’m testing is sure to be one of the most desirable of these cars, thanks to its eye-catching Giola Green paint job, unique 20-inch forged wheels, a host of additional visual touches, and even a few performance upgrades. The 75 tops the regular R with larger, aluminum rear fenders wheel bearingImproved upper ball joints, wider Pirelli P Zero tires and an electronically active rear differential.
You’d struggle to tell the difference between a regular R and the R 75, but it’s a pleasure to see Jaguar push its beloved sports car to the limit. No other Jaguar has been able to match the longevity and durability of the acclaimed E-Type, but the F-Type certainly does the best job of trying, and we have our highest praise for both its design and its superb V8 engine.
