All good things must come to an end, and we will shed a tear when the last Jaguar F-Type, a truly exclusive piece of engineering, rolls off the assembly line in 2024. This article pays tribute to this rare gem, the Jaguar F-Type R75 P575 AWD Automatic. Our test model, with a sticker price of $135,900, was manufactured at the Birmingham, GBR plant.
British automakers have been known for their beautiful two-seaters and Jaguar followed this tradition of excellence. The F-Type is an aggressive-looking, low-to-the-ground vehicle. It has a massive front grille and long hood for a small car, with even more air intake on the lower bumper and hood scoops to feed as much oxygen as possible to the large V8 engine. On the sides, you will find large fender flares on the rear tires to accommodate the extra power delivered to the wheels, and the back is more toned down, with the small trunk and quad exhaust pipes. There are also LED tail lights that complement the styling, but overall, the Jaguar F-Type doesn't look flashy. It's a mature and timeless design, a masterpiece that lets its performance speak for itself, which we'll get to shortly.
Sitting inside the Jaguar F-Type makes you feel almost like you're in an F1 cockpit. It is narrow and sporty, but there is enough space for tall people to sit and enjoy every minute. The Ebony performance seats provide exceptional lateral support when taking corners, and they also feature both heating and cooling functions, making them even more appealing. The digital gauge cluster is large, and the steering wheel feels great, with intuitive controls for multimedia and paddle shifters that work great. Technology-wise, the F-Type falls short, but the infotainment system is adequate and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Jaguar also added the Meridian sound system, a nice touch in a car as expensive as this one. A dual-purpose dial serves both climate and heated seat controls, contributing to a sleeker look. A cool party trick in the interior is the front dual climate vents that pop up when you turn on the vehicle. It's cool to see them rise when you press the Start button. Finally, practicality is better than you would think; the cargo area is surprisingly large, almost matching the Toyota Camry (396L vs 428L). There is no backseat, which is a wise decision considering this model was also offered as a convertible. Nevertheless, if you can still fit a child's seat, Jaguar sells a special product: "Rearward facing. (...) Can be installed with the vehicle's three-point seat belt." It is cool to see, even though children won't sit in the passenger seat that often.
Performance-wise, the Jaguar F-Type excels with its supercharged V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the only powertrain option in the model. In our test model, the P575, you get a healthy 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, pondering the coupe to a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds, which isn't as fast as a Chevy Corvette, for example, but still quite the figure and almost a full second faster than the base P450, which is already pretty fast. We also like the exhaust notes, which you can amplify at the touch of a button. The sound from the engine and the exhaust pipes are glorious and make for an enjoyable drive every time you turn on the engine! This powertrain becomes livelier when you rev the engine up in the RPMs; this is when you truly get all the available power and experience the pure greatness of the ensemble. The silver paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow you to shift gears manually. The eight-speed automatic is a good transmission, but it is starting to show some signs of age, especially in an era of dual-clutch transmissions, due to slower shifting, making it slightly slower than a similar Porsche 911. Braking performance is as good as its engine, powerful and efficient. The suspensions are stiff, without having to compromise much on comfort either. Steering and handling are excellent; you can easily throw the F-Type in corners with barely any body roll. The all-wheel-drive system is fantastic in that aspect; it distributes the power intelligently, thus reducing the chances of tire burning. It is an excellent sportscar; the vehicle is eager to go faster and faster, so much so that you must keep a close eye on your speed to avoid a ticket.
Consumers are looking at crossovers and SUVs that offer decent fuel economy, with an increasing trend towards electrification. The Jaguar F-Type isn't any of those things: it's a mean-looking, sporty coupe with a big supercharged V8 hidden under its long hood that seats two people. Unfortunately, these vehicles are on their way out. If you have the opportunity to buy one, do yourself a favour and make the purchase. It will be worthwhile! Check out the post on the first Jaguar F-Type at the link here.
Jaguar has lent us this vehicle for one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Jaguar Canada. The above is a recollection of our personal opinion of the car referred above.
