The F-Type gets even better by ditching the folding top and getting an “R” badge.
For years, the Porsche 911 has ruled the high-end sports car market. Automakers have built cars designed to be “911 killers”, but they never really came close. But, Jaguar’s new F-Type Coupe range is providing some very stiff competition to the German sports car. The F-Type Coupe range has it all: beautiful styling, a rigid structure, superb performance, and a wealth of luxuries that instantly put it at the top of the high-end sports car game.
At the 2013 Los Angeles Motor Show, Jaguar unveiled its new all-aluminum F-Type Coupe, F-Type S Coupe, and its range-topping F-Type R Coupe. The new sports car is more than just an F-Type Convertible with a top – they’re performance-oriented sports cars that aren’t afraid to tackle a racetrack, especially the F-Type R Coupe variant.
“Creating a sports Coupe is the purest of design tasks, and also the most challenging; get it right and aesthetically the result will be as dynamic as the car should be rewarding to drive,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar. “In F-TYPE Coupe, I believe we’ve got it right. The purity of the C-X16 concept has been retained without compromise; the long bonnet, low roofline and tapering cabin of the F-TYPE Coupe inspires me every time I see it.”
Three key ‘heartlines’ define the all-aluminum body of the F-Type. The first starts with the twin ‘shark gill’ openings that flank the front grille and up through the headlights and around the front fenders and doors where it ends at the rear. The second starts at the bottom of the door and dramatically swells upwards towards the rear to emphasize the rear-wheel drive platform by creating bulging rear fenders. The third ‘heartline’ is the sleek roof profile with cabin-rearward figure that highlights the dynamic performance of the F-Type Coupe.
One of the challenges for the F-Type Coupe for engineers and designers was to create a safe and stable structure that conformed to the sleek design without B-pillars. Engineers employed a high-strength aluminum alloy beam that runs from the A-pillar to the D-pillar and through the back of the rear-quarter window to eliminate the need for extra panels and joints to form a seamless and smooth shape.
A great deal of attention was paid to the aerodynamics of the F-Type, especially the F-Type R Coupe. All models in the lineup feature a hidden rear spoiler that deploys automatically at 70 mph and reverts back to its original position under 50 mph. The spoiler generates 264 lbs of downforce at speed for better stability and sits between the slim LED taillights at the rear. In the F-Type R Coupe, new gloss black vanes beneath the ‘shark gills’ and matte side sill extensions help to stabilize the front-end at higher speeds. As an option, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe customers can order the Black Pack with gloss black accessories or carbon fiber aerodynamic components for a more athletic look.
httpvh://youtu.be/zCmsfhAvcyo
The most notable addition to the Jaguar lineup and biggest threat to the competition is the F-Type R Coupe. The range-topping model is easily the most dynamic in the F-Type model range and offers inspiring performance. Beneath the hood sits a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine that features advanced technology such as spray-guided direct injection (SGDI), dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT), and a high-pressure die-cast lightweight aluminum block. The engine is fed by a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger with two air-to-liquid intercoolers. Output is rated at 550 horsepower at 6,500 RPM and 502 lb-ft. from 2,500 to 5,500 RPM, sending the F-Type R Coupe to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and from 50-75 mph in just 2.4 seconds to an electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph. An Active Sports Exhaust with quad tailpipes and electronically-controlled bypass valves lets out a menacing roar or subtle growl depending on a number of factors.
The engine is connected to an eight-speed ‘Quickshift’ transmission that has been tuned specifically for the high-output F-Type Coupe R. The transmission is designed so that each gear allows the engine to remain in its optimal power band for quick acceleration in any gear.
A number of electronic driving aids are featured throughout the F-Type Coupe R and are also available on the other F-Type models as options. The Active Dynamics System adjusts damper rates at 500 times per second to keep the sports car stable at all times. The system works alongside the new second-generation Electronic Active Differential (EAD) and Torque Vectoring system to achieve maximum grip. In the Engaging Driving mode, drivers benefit from firmer damper rates, heavier steering, and faster gear changes with a sharper throttle response.
The F-Type R Coupe benefits from the standard Jaguar Super Performance braking system that is more potent than the ones found in the F-Type Coupe and F-Type S Coupe models. Red-painted calipers grab 380 mm front and 376 mm rear discs and are hidden behind 20-inch Gyrodyne silver-finished wheels with optional dark grey and diamond-turned finishes available as options. Customers can also opt for the Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes (CCM) that cut weight by 46 lbs. and feature vivid yellow calipers. The brakes utilize monoblock six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers with 398 mm front and 380 mm rear discs for fade-resistant stopping power.
Inside of the new Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is a driver-focused cabin with a brilliant blend of sport and luxury. New performance seats with embossed “R” logos and have generous bolstering for lateral support. The Jet Black seats can be trimmed in Ivory, Camel, or Red contrasting surfaces while the Jet Black interior trim can be contrasted with Ivory, Red, or Firesand stitching. Facing the driver is a small-diameter flat-bottomed steering wheel while they are enveloped in a 770-watt Meridian surround sound system.
The Jaguar F-Type V6 Coupe is powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. of torque and can sprint to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 161 mph. The standard model comes with Dynamic Mode, sport exhaust with dual tailpipes, sport suspension, and Performance Braking system with 354 mm front and 325 mm rear discs and silver calipers.
The middle-of-the-pack Jaguar F-Type S Coupe utilizes a more potent supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine with 380 horsepower and 339 lb-ft. of torque. The F-Type S Coupe can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and speed to an electronically-limited 171 mph. The sports car also has a few more equipment coming standard such as Dynamic Mode, Dynamic Launch, Active Sport exhaust, sport suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, high performance braking system with 380 mm front and 325 mm rear discs, black calipers, and mechanical rear differential.
The new Jaguar F-Type Coupe range including the F-Type R Coupe will be available around the world in the spring of 2014. The F-Type Coupe will start at $65,000, the F-Type S Coupe will be priced at $77,000, and the range-topping F-Type R Coupe will be priced at $99,000.
Jaguar F-Type Coupe Specifications
F-Type Coupe:
Engine Capacity (cc): 2995 (3.0 liters)
Number of Cylinders: V-6
Aspiration: Supercharged
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Bore/stroke (inches): 3.33/3.50
Maximum Horsepower: 340 at 6,500 RPM
Maximum Torque: 332 lb-ft. from 3,500 to 5,000 RPM
Performance:
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 5.1 seconds
Acceleration 50-75 mph: 3.3 seconds
Top Speed: 161 mph (electronically limited)
F-Type S Coupe:
Engine Capacity (cc): 2995 (3.0 liters)
Number of Cylinders: V-6
Aspiration: Supercharged
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Bore/stroke (inches): 3.33/3.50
Maximum Horsepower: 380 at 6,500 RPM
Maximum Torque: 339 lb-ft. from 3,500 to 5,000 RPM
Performance:
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
Acceleration 50-75 mph: 3.1 seconds
Top Speed: 171 mph (electronically limited)
F-Type R Coupe:
Engine Capacity (cc): 5,000 (5.0 liters)
Number of Cylinders: V-8
Aspiration: Supercharged
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Bore/stroke (inches): 3.64/3.66
Maximum Horsepower: 550 at 6,500 RPM
Maximum Torque: 502 lb-ft. from 2,500 to 5,500 RPM
Performance:
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.0 seconds
Acceleration 50-75 mph: 2.4 seconds
Top Speed: 186 mph (electronically limited)
Jaguar F-Type Coupe Gallery
Source: Jaguar
Is the new Jaguar F-Type R Coupe a Porsche 911 killer?
