Not unexpectedly, Jaguar has announced a new line of F-TYPE coupes. The F-TYPE Coupe (along with the F-TYPE S Coupe and F-TYPE R Coupe) continues Jag’s newfound sexiness. After a few decades of slightly conservative and lackluster designs, Jaguar came back with a vengeance with the F-TYPE convertible. Now that the line of coupes have been introduced, the style has been taken up a notch, and for the first time in quite some time, James Bond might consider the Jag over its Aston Martin brother.
But enough about the beauty. The enthusiasts are here for what’s under the hood. The base F-TYPE Coupe is relatively modest, which befits a Jaguar coupe that only costs $65,000. It comes with a middle of the line 340 bhp 3-liter supercharged V-6, pushing the car from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds. The F-TYPE S Coupe ($77,000) is moderately better, also boasting a 3-liter supercharged V-6, though it bumps out 380 bhp and 0-60 in 4.8.
These numbers won’t get you noticed at Laguna Seca, but that’s never been the purpose of a Jaguar. It’s the combination of luxury, impeccable design, and just enough performance. However, for those with performance in mind, the F-TYPE R Coupe (which jumps in at $99,000) barely resembles its little brothers when you pop the hood. There you’ll find a 5-liter supercharged V-8 that cranks out 550 bhp and hits 60 in 4.0 seconds even. Not too shabby, Jaguar.
The transmission is certainly better than Jaguar coupes in the past, as Jag has caught up to the times with its 8-speed “Quickshift” semi-automatic transmission featuring full manual mode with steering column based paddle shifters. Add in the optional Carbon Ceramic Matrix braking system, and you have a car that even a track junkie can appreciate.
The F-TYPE coupes aren’t flawless; far from it. But it’s pretty clear that the Jaguars gracing the sports car market in 2013 bear little resemblance to those from 2003. And that is a good thing.
Photo Credit: Newspress
