Review Jaguar F-Type 2021: R

After a long gestation period as various Jaguar corporate lords toyed with the idea of ​​a successor to the legendary E-Type, the F-Type finally arrived in late 2013 and caught everyone's attention.

It has managed to capture just the right amount of Jag heritage stacked up in a high-tech package, with a simple choice of supercharged V6 and V8 engines housed in an extremely sleek convertible body.

The formula has become more complex over time, with coupe versions, powerful R and full-fat SVR variants, special editions including the exotic Project 7, and most recently turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder models. stunning double more affordable.

An update in late 2019 added some extra catnip, including a redesigned nose, and this is the flagship F-Type R, powered by a supercharged V8 engine and performance-focused underpinnings. It's time to dive into this latest chapter in Jaguar F-Type history.

Jaguar F-Type 2021: V8 R AWD (423 kW)
Safety Rating
engine's type	5.0L
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	11.3l / 100km
Landing	2 Places
Price from	$198,200

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

It's hard to spot direct competitors to the $262,936 F-Type R, except for one; Porsche 911 Carrera S, a clear competitor for $274,000 price and performance.

With a 3.0kW/331Nm 530-litre twin-turbo boxer engine, the 911 can sprint from 0 to 100 mph in just 3.7 seconds, which (surprise, surprise) is exactly what the Jag claims.

Cast your net a little wider and you'll catch, for example, a low-priced Nissan GT-R Track Edition ($235,000) and a Mercedes-Benz S 560 Coupe ($326,635k) for about $50k above the F-Type's asking price. . So, the list of standard features should be impressive, and in short, it is.

Detailing to the depth of details of the equipment specification of this car will require a separate review. (Image: James Cleary)

Drilling down to the details of this car's equipment specification would require a separate review, so here's a package of highlights.

The 10-inch Touch Pro multimedia screen controls a Meridian 380W audio system with 10 speakers (including subwoofer), digital radio, dynamic volume control and 10-channel amplifier, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth. connection.

It's also the gateway to custom dynamic vehicle tuning, "Navigation Pro", phone connectivity, ambient lighting, a rearview camera, and more.

It comes with 20-inch alloy wheels and bright red brake calipers. (Image: James Cleary)

Full-grain Windsor leather is upholstered in 12-way power-adjustable Performance seats (plus memory). There's also a 12.3-inch customizable digital instrument cluster, cruise control (and speed limiter), keyless entry and start, automatic rain sensors, auto-dimming and heated folding (memory) wipers, switchable active exhaust, LEDs. headlights, DRLs and taillights, as well as an electrically adjustable steering column (with memory), climate control, a power trunk lid, 20-inch alloy wheels, bright red brake calipers and a signature "R" letter on leather trim. sports steering wheel, door sills and center console.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

Although it started out as a roadster, the F-Type coupe version was always part of the plan. In fact, the Jaguar C-X16 Concept, which became the production car prototype in 2011, was a hardtop.

After the coupe's public preview at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, I asked then-Jaguar head of design Ian Cullum if consultants had vetoed the concept's ultra-cool side-opening hatch door; one of many E-Type styling tips. His response was a wry smile and a slow nod of his head.

It's a shame the door didn't make it to the showroom floor, but the E-Type still has a strong design influence on its successor.

The leather-wrapped sports steering wheel features the signature "R". (Image: James Cleary)

At around 4.5m long, around 1.9m wide and just over 1.3m high, the F-Type R looks more compact in metal than in photographs, perhaps a hallmark of successful sports car design.

A long, flowing bonnet (with front hinges) (Jaguar calls its “liquid metal sculpture” shape) protrudes forward from the rear cab, behind which are wide but tightly wrapped hips. 20-inch 10-spoke wheels (Gloss Black with diamond cut) fill the wheel arches perfectly.

I'm a big fan of the taillight cluster design, slightly repurposed in the late 2019 update that echoes the shape of the E-Type Series 1 and other classic Jags, but I found it harder to keep warm with the outgoing F-Type. processing of square headlights.

Jaguar describes this two-seater as "1+1," confirming that the F-Type is driver-centric, and our test car's brown leather trim underscores that fact. (Image: James Cleary)

Always a subjective opinion, but in my opinion, this car's thinner, more cat-like (LED) eyes and slightly larger grille provide a better balance between front and rear. And slim, flush-mounted retractable exterior door handles stay cool in sub-zero temperatures.

Our "Santorini Black" test car was completed with the "Exterior Black Design Pack" ($1820) for an extra hint of menace. It applies body color to the front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser while darkening the grille surround, side vents, side window surrounds, rear valance, Jaguar lettering, F-Type badge and Jumper emblem.

Jaguar describes this two-seater as "1+1," confirming that the F-Type is driver-centric, and our test car's brown leather trim underscores that fact.

Always a subjective opinion, but in my opinion, this car's thinner, more cat-like (LED) eyes and slightly larger grille provide a better balance between front and rear. (Image: James Cleary)

A tawny dashboard on the passenger side complete with a floating buttress grab bar for extra support when the g-force starts to build up. Unlike everything black and everything business on the driver's side.

The wide center stack houses a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen with easy-to-use climate control system dials at the bottom. And the high-definition 12.3-inch reconfigurable instrument panel (with graphics unique to the F-type) is the epitome of clarity and simplicity.

The latter offers a choice of display themes, including a full navigation map, but the default mode highlights the large central tachometer. Good.

An impressive design feature carried over from the previous model is the drop-down front vents. The dash stays flat until the pre-set climate control temperature setting causes the top, with a pair of adjustable air vents, to rise smoothly. Very cool (no pun intended).

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

If you're going to be riding your F-Type R on a daily basis, make sure your yoga fees are up to date because ingress and egress are designed for fast walking and limb flexibility.

Once inside, however, within its two-door coupe format, the F-Type offers plenty of storage options, including a decent glove box, center storage/armrest box, small door bins, a mesh pocket on top of the trunk. a partition between the seats and a pair of cup holders on the console.

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Power and connectivity feeds into a 12V socket on the dash and another in the center storage compartment, next to two USB-A ports and a micro-SIM slot.

Despite the (alloy) trunk floor space savings, the F-Type Coupe offers decent cargo space with 310 liters on offer, rising to 408 with the trunk lid removed.

It's enough to swallow a small (36-litre) and a large (95-litre) suitcase together, and there are two (well-chromed) anchors as well as elastic retention straps at either end of a small ledge on the bulkhead.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The F-Type R is powered by Jaguar's all-alloy (AJ133) 5.0-litre V8 supercharged, direct injection, variable (intake) camshaft, Eaton (Roots-style) supercharger, producing 423 kW (567 hp) at 6500 rpm and 700 Nm from 3500-5000 rpm.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Quickshift automatic transmission and Jaguar's own adaptive all-wheel drive system with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) technology.

The all-wheel drive system is based on an electro-hydraulic multi-plate (wet) clutch controlled by a centrifugal electro-hydraulic drive. The default front/rear drive balance is 10/90, although Jaguar claims that even a full power transition from 100% rear to 100% front takes just 165 milliseconds.

The engine is equipped with direct injection, variable (inlet) phase distribution and an Eaton (Roots type) supercharger, providing power of 423 kW (567 hp) at 6500 rpm and 700 Nm at 3500-5000 rpm. (Image: James Cleary)

The IDD system constantly monitors each wheel's speed and traction, suspension compression, steering angle and braking force, as well as the vehicle's rotational state.

It then uses an algorithm to determine which wheels are likely to lose traction, and before traction is lost, redirect drive to those wheels that can make the best use of it.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

Claimed fuel economy in the combined cycle (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) is 11.3 l / 100 km, while the F-Type R emits 269 g / km of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Despite the standard auto stop/start function, over nearly 350 km of city, suburban and freeway driving, we recorded (indicated on the dashboard) an average consumption of 16.1 l/100 km.

It's a hard drinking habit, but it sort of fits into this productivity territory, and we hit the gas regularly.

The recommended fuel is 95 octane premium unleaded gasoline and you will need 70 liters to fill the tank. This equates to a range of 619 km according to the factory claim and 434 km using our real number as a guideline.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The F-Type hasn't been rated by ANCAP, but apart from the usual active safety suspects like ABS, EBD, traction and stability control, the R is equipped with an AEB system operating at speeds above five km/h. on the spot at speeds up to 80 km/h and pedestrian detection up to 60 km/h.

The all-wheel-drive system provides specific Rain, Ice, and Snow modes, as well as active high beams, lane keeping assist, a rearview camera, and front and rear parking sensors and a Driver Status Monitor. '

But cross-traffic alert (front or rear) is missing in action, blind-spot assist is an option ($900), as is park assist ($700) and tire pressure monitoring ($700). Any car that breaks the $250 barrier should have these as standard.

If an impact is unavoidable, there are six airbags (front, side and curtain). But remember, the front passenger seat is a no-go zone for a rear-facing child restraint. And Jaguar says, "A child should only travel in the front passenger seat if necessary and permitted by national or state law."

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

Jaguar covers its new car lineup in Australia with a three-year, 100,000 km warranty, which looks especially parsimonious compared to the generally accepted market norm of five years for unlimited mileage, and lags behind other premium players such as Mercedes-Benz and Genesis. which have a five year warranty. years/unlimited km.

On the other hand, the paint and corrosion (perforation) warranty is three years, and roadside assistance is free for 12 months.

And last but not least, the F-Type's scheduled maintenance (determined by the service interval indicator on board) is free for five years/130,000 km.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

Yes, no wonder the 2021 Jaguar F-Type R is a real beast. Weighing just over 1.7 tonnes and with the 423kW/700Nm required to propel it forward, in terms of straight-line acceleration, it's a scalded cat in every way.

Dig in your right foot and it will sprint to 0 km/h in just 100 seconds to a furious sonic accompaniment thanks to a supercharged 3.7-liter V4.0 and sports exhaust system. The electrically operated wastegates in the latter's rear muffler stay closed until they automatically open under load, and damn it, they open.

Potential F-Type R owners looking to stay on good terms with their neighbors will be happy to know there's a "quiet start" feature, but once you've driven a few blocks, the engine is capable of alerting the entire suburb to your presence. complete with raucous crackles and pops when overflowing.

It comes with a switchable active exhaust. (Image: James Cleary)

All 700Nm of maximum torque is available from 3500 to 5000rpm, and mid-range pull is ferocious. If you have access to a long enough private road, Jaguar claims this car will reach an (electronically limited!) top speed of 300 km/h.

The eight-speed automatic got a few changes thanks to the XE-based SV Project 8, and it's brilliant. A regular block based on a torque converter rather than a dual clutch, it was called "Quickshift", and it is. Manual shifting between gear ratios using paddles mounted on the wheel is fast and efficient.

Head to your favorite B-road and the F-Type R's ability to lay out all its power without fuss is impressive. Drive into a series of tight corners and the car grabs, sits down and simply rushes from one corner to the next, a clever all-wheel drive system smoothly redistributing torque between axles and individual wheels.

The standard electronic active differential and torque vectoring (by braking) also help keep everything under control, turning off-road riders into top-hunting virtuosos.

I'm a big fan of the taillight cluster design, slightly repurposed for the late 2019 update. (Image: James Cleary)

Suspension is (aluminum) double wishbones front and rear with revised springs and anti-roll bars added in the 2019 update. Continuously adjustable dampers are at the heart of the Adaptive Dynamics system, learning your style and adjusting it accordingly.

The electric power steering combines excellent road feel with satisfying precision, and the car feels balanced yet nimble and responsive when driven enthusiastically.

In a quieter mode, adaptive tuning detects road irregularities and adjusts the suspension settings for a more comfortable ride. According to Jaguar, the damper valves and control algorithms have been recalibrated to improve low speed comfort and high speed handling, and I can vouch for their effectiveness.

Shortly after driving this F-Type, RI spent some time in a supercharged V6 F-Type P380 R-Dynamic and this R is much more docile.

The rubber is a specially designed Pirelli P Zero (265/35 front - 305/30 front) and the extremely efficient brakes are ventilated 380mm front and 376mm rear.

Yes, no wonder the 2021 Jaguar F-Type R is a real beast. (Image: James Cleary)

Verdict

The Jaguar F-Type R is as fast and powerful as it is beautiful. Although a bit gluttonous and lacking in active safety, it is technically outstanding, delivering an amazing combination of performance, dynamics and comfort.