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25th
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Hollywood, CA -- I know what trouble looks like; after all, I have a mischievous 2.5-year-old son at home. I see when he gets that look in his eye, that twitch of his mouth, and I know something is about to be done or was already done and I'm going to discover it momentarily. Well, the Jaguar F-Type Coupe has that look. All. The. Time.
If you thought the roadster was a looker, take a moment and soak in the stunner that is the coupe version of the already sexy Jaguar F-Type. With a solid roof and a growling V8 under the sumptuous bonnet, the R Coupe is more in all the right ways.
As we wound our way through the outskirts of Los Angeles and Hollywood, blue skies above and rolling Californian hills around, the F-Type growled, popped, burbled, and showed us a good time as only a baddie can do.
What is a Jaguar F-Type Coupe?
Essentially, the F-Type Coupe is a hardtop version of the two-seater roadster. With a full aluminium body, and a new construction that sees the entire side body panel as one piece, the F-Type Coupe is a full 80% more rigid than its drop-top brother. That's pretty insane and means while the coupe is also heavier, it handles that much better in the twisties.
2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Price and Specs
The F-Type R Coupe is the Big Cheese of the F-Type lineup, with the largest engine and a hard top. At the bottom of the coupe barrel sits the V6 version that starts just under $73k. And at the top of the range is the R Coupe with a starting price of $109,900. Except for the R, the Coupe is cheaper than the roadster for all other models.
Now, that V8: 5.0L and supercharged, it pumps out 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque. The R's V8 adds a full 20 kilos over the V6, but the added 200+ horsepower makes up for it. The R Coupe also features an ideal 51/49 weight distribution and power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
Driving the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
As I cruised Sunset Blvd. in my R Coupe, Ferraris, Maseratis and a McLaren or two pulling up alongside, I felt I belonged. While the Jaguar might seem “small beans” compared to the other heavy hitters, I dare you to get behind the wheel of the V8 and tell me it couldn't go toe-to-toe with any of them.
For a low-slung, compact sports car, the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is pretty comfortable. Road imperfections are swallowed up, and the two-seater feels as at home in the city, on highways, twisty back-roads - and even a track.
Of note: There is an exhaust-note enhancer button. Please press it. You will not be disappointed. The Jaguar F-Type R Coupe makes the most glorious noises. It farts, burps, pops, and groans; this machine is alive and wants to play. I found myself accelerating quickly whenever the opportunity arose just so I could play with the gears and hear the engine's response. So smooth are the gear changes that it feels like a double-clutch system, though not as refined as something like a PDK.
Tracking the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is a whole other story. Equipped with huge carbon-ceramic brakes, this kitty can slow down as quickly as it can accelerate. Torque-vectoring assists in cornering, precise handling, and an electronic active differential, ensured the F-Type R Coupe stayed true to the racing line I demanded of it as I careened around Willow Springs.
There aren't many “super” cars that can perform as well on the track and feel comfortable on the drive home too. Porsche are the experts in that domain, hands down. However, Jaguar have come close with the F-Type R Coupe.
Of course, Jaguar's Dynamic and Snow modes are available, however, in the F-Type you can fiddle with a portion of the car's chassis, steering and throttle set-ups in Dynamic mode, making your ride even more tailored to your driving style and what you wish to do with your F-Type R Coupe.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
I thought the roadster was stunning, but this Coupe version is on a whole other level. Ian Callum has outdone himself with this one. When the F-Type concept was first revealed, I don't think anyone thought it would actually look as close to the original.
This thing is pure sex on wheels. From any angle, in any colour, it is absolutely beautiful. This thing is downright sex appeal. The F-Type's silhouette is a bit of a turn on.
Inside the F-Type R Coupe, space is limited but it's well appointed and comfortable. Surprisingly, visibility is actually quite good, despite the heavily angled and rather small rear window.
Unfortunately, Jaguar's outdated and oh-so-slow onboard entertainment and navigation system still resides. One day they'll update it, one day.
Trunk space is also limited, but of course Jaguar ensured two golf bags will comfortable fit in the rear.
Comparing the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
Jag's got Porsche in its sights with the Cayman (V6) and 911 Turbo (V8), and they even compare their R Coupe to the R8. In terms of pricing and performance, Jag is on par and ready to compete with the best of the best.
Jaguar's showing they've got what it takes to be a modern, performance-driven company. Here's hoping the F-Type's genes trickle down the line to other Jag models.
If you thought the roadster was a looker, take a moment and soak in the stunner that is the coupe version of the already sexy Jaguar F-Type. With a solid roof and a growling V8 under the sumptuous bonnet, the R Coupe is more in all the right ways.
As we wound our way through the outskirts of Los Angeles and Hollywood, blue skies above and rolling Californian hills around, the F-Type growled, popped, burbled, and showed us a good time as only a baddie can do.
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What is a Jaguar F-Type Coupe?
Essentially, the F-Type Coupe is a hardtop version of the two-seater roadster. With a full aluminium body, and a new construction that sees the entire side body panel as one piece, the F-Type Coupe is a full 80% more rigid than its drop-top brother. That's pretty insane and means while the coupe is also heavier, it handles that much better in the twisties.
2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Price and Specs
The F-Type R Coupe is the Big Cheese of the F-Type lineup, with the largest engine and a hard top. At the bottom of the coupe barrel sits the V6 version that starts just under $73k. And at the top of the range is the R Coupe with a starting price of $109,900. Except for the R, the Coupe is cheaper than the roadster for all other models.
Now, that V8: 5.0L and supercharged, it pumps out 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque. The R's V8 adds a full 20 kilos over the V6, but the added 200+ horsepower makes up for it. The R Coupe also features an ideal 51/49 weight distribution and power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
Driving the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
As I cruised Sunset Blvd. in my R Coupe, Ferraris, Maseratis and a McLaren or two pulling up alongside, I felt I belonged. While the Jaguar might seem “small beans” compared to the other heavy hitters, I dare you to get behind the wheel of the V8 and tell me it couldn't go toe-to-toe with any of them.
For a low-slung, compact sports car, the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is pretty comfortable. Road imperfections are swallowed up, and the two-seater feels as at home in the city, on highways, twisty back-roads - and even a track.
Of note: There is an exhaust-note enhancer button. Please press it. You will not be disappointed. The Jaguar F-Type R Coupe makes the most glorious noises. It farts, burps, pops, and groans; this machine is alive and wants to play. I found myself accelerating quickly whenever the opportunity arose just so I could play with the gears and hear the engine's response. So smooth are the gear changes that it feels like a double-clutch system, though not as refined as something like a PDK.
Tracking the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is a whole other story. Equipped with huge carbon-ceramic brakes, this kitty can slow down as quickly as it can accelerate. Torque-vectoring assists in cornering, precise handling, and an electronic active differential, ensured the F-Type R Coupe stayed true to the racing line I demanded of it as I careened around Willow Springs.
There aren't many “super” cars that can perform as well on the track and feel comfortable on the drive home too. Porsche are the experts in that domain, hands down. However, Jaguar have come close with the F-Type R Coupe.
Of course, Jaguar's Dynamic and Snow modes are available, however, in the F-Type you can fiddle with a portion of the car's chassis, steering and throttle set-ups in Dynamic mode, making your ride even more tailored to your driving style and what you wish to do with your F-Type R Coupe.
Inside and Out of the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
I thought the roadster was stunning, but this Coupe version is on a whole other level. Ian Callum has outdone himself with this one. When the F-Type concept was first revealed, I don't think anyone thought it would actually look as close to the original.
This thing is pure sex on wheels. From any angle, in any colour, it is absolutely beautiful. This thing is downright sex appeal. The F-Type's silhouette is a bit of a turn on.
Inside the F-Type R Coupe, space is limited but it's well appointed and comfortable. Surprisingly, visibility is actually quite good, despite the heavily angled and rather small rear window.
Unfortunately, Jaguar's outdated and oh-so-slow onboard entertainment and navigation system still resides. One day they'll update it, one day.
Trunk space is also limited, but of course Jaguar ensured two golf bags will comfortable fit in the rear.
Comparing the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
Jag's got Porsche in its sights with the Cayman (V6) and 911 Turbo (V8), and they even compare their R Coupe to the R8. In terms of pricing and performance, Jag is on par and ready to compete with the best of the best.
Jaguar's showing they've got what it takes to be a modern, performance-driven company. Here's hoping the F-Type's genes trickle down the line to other Jag models.