2016 Jaguar F-TYPE: There is no Stopping this Jag

The F-Type has been one of the most successful new offerings from any manufacturer and with a model that certainly has not exhausted its appeal you might think the 2016 model would be a carbon copy of the 2015 version, but you would be wrong.  Jaguar has upped the ante and worked to give us a new F-Type that certainly appears to be poised to take on the Porsche 911, Maserati Gran Turismo and Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG while costing quite a bit less than all three of those fabulous models do.

As the lower-priced high-powered player of this group, the F-Type gives us new power from a dynamic new setup.  With that in mind, let’s start with the engine offerings for this discussion.  There are two engines with a total of three setups to give the F-Type everything you could want from a high powered sports car.  The use of aluminum in many of the engine parts helps to reduce the weight which only increases the performance of the car.  The V6 engine benefits from a six-speed manual transmission while the eight cylinder model enjoys an eight-speed automatic transmission which is also available for the six-cylinder engines.

The first power offering at the base model for the F-Type is the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 which shows up with 340 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque.  This gives a great power rating and a reasonable fuel mileage to enjoy.  While the manual has not been rated yet, the automatic is rated at 19 city/28 hwy mpg to give owner power, performance and a decent amount of fuel mileage from a high-powered sports car.

The next setup for the F-Type is the F-Type S model which is also a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 but comes in with 380-horsepower and 339 lb.-ft. of torque.  With the manual lacking a fuel rating, the automatic transmission offers 19 city/27 hwy mpg for the RWD version and 18 city/26 hwy mpg for the AWD.  This upgraded power and performance of the S model offers a fantastic mid-level power that is more than just fun from behind the wheel, it’s an experience unto itself.

If the V6 offers an excellent experience, this last engine will be as close to a religious engagement as the F-Type can get.  The F-Type R is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine that shows itself with 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque.  This power beast can easily have you plastered to your seat and with the automatic on board shows a 16 city/23 hwy mpg for the RWD setup and 15 city/23 hwy mpg for the AWD.  When you have as much power under the hood as these models do you certainly have a car that needs to be under control to give you an awesome drive, so let’s check that out.

If you aren’t familiar with the F-Type, this is a two-seater sports coupe from Jaguar that is simply awesome.  In order to harness all the horsepower found under the hood the F-Type takes advantage of the sport suspension, active rear differential, electronic-assisted power steering and carbon ceramic brakes.  All of this helps keeps this awesome car planted on any road, giving you the enjoyment and excitement of a drive along the ridge of a canyon, or you can easily unleash the beast on a straightaway and see what this monster can do.  At the top end the run to sixty mph comes in under four seconds and the top speed is governed to 186 mph, which gives you plenty of room to have a lot of fun.

How much will this power cost you?  The base F-type shows up with a starting price of $66,000 and the S will carry a tag that reads $78,300.  Moving all the way up to the F-Type R the base price is just under $105,000 to gain all the power you could ever find in this awesome car.  The convertible models start at $70,000 for the base F-Type, $81,500 for the S with the manual tranny, and $107,500 for the F-Type R.  Even though these prices seem steep, each and every one of the competitors mentioned is more expensive for similar models, making this nearly a bargain basement offering.

With pricing discussed the next question may be what do you get for the money other than the engine and transmission setup?  The base model is seriously well-equipped with leather seats, premium interior materials, a 770-watt Meridian audio system with InControl apps suite, a quick-acting power top on the convertibles, Jaguar Smart Key, a 14-way power driver’s seat and a panoramic glass roof on the coupes.  Stepping up to the S model adds Configurable Dynamic Mode, a flat-bottomed racing style steering wheel and Active Exhaust.  The R continues the climb with a power rear tailgate, standard AWD and the automatic transmission. All models benefit from the fuel saving start/stop technology helping keep some change in your pockets.

With a car so well-equipped you might think there shouldn’t be any options, but there are.  You can enjoy the benefits of Dynamic Mode which improves the performance of the throttle, steering, suspension and transmission to enhance the overall driving experience.  For track bound F-Types there is a carbon-ceramic matrix brake upgrade which adds $12,000 to the price and adds a degree of awesomeness to the track experience.  On the other side of the coin, luxury lovers can enjoy upgrades as well such as a red leather package, a heated steering wheel and a Suedecloth headliner.

Even though this is a low-slung sports car the space inside is amazing.  This car has plenty of headroom, separates the two occupants with a wide console and offers you excellent visibility.  The smooth feeling of all the materials and controls make driving or riding inside this beautiful car a ride you won’t soon forget and certainly one that will be fun each time you go for a spin.  The controls are nearly intuitive, feeling as if they could drive the car for you and making it a lot easier to handle this angry beast.

From the outside, the F-Type is gorgeous with designs that are a bit of a throwback to the E-Type of fifty years ago.  The roll up the hood and across the windshield to the roof is smooth and even giving the air of not only luxury but also of aerodynamics.  In the rear a spoiler can and will pop up once the speed is over 50 mph, giving added control, downforce and a really cool feature.  Overall, the F-Type makes a great choice when you want an awesome luxury sports car.  The competitors are all much more expensive and the F-Type gives you all you can handle with the amazing power and performance found in this outstanding luxury sports car that will certainly be your pride and joy for many years to come.