Jaguar’s F-Type a true successor to the E-Type
The project had its fits and starts over the years, but in the end, four decades passed before Jaguar built a true successor to its beloved E-Type sports car. The F-Type arrived in 2014 with much resting on its shapely shoulders — expectations were higher than the front row of a Grateful Dead concert.
And really, how do you follow an act like the E-Type?
Enzo Ferrari called it the most beautiful car in the world.
There’s one on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Austin Powers rocked an E-Type adorned in Union Jack livery and dubbed it the “Shaguar.” Yeah, baby.
Thankfully, the F-Type turned out to be a cracking good sports car, now available with four-, six- and eight-cylinder power.
Perhaps more importantly, it’s a visual stunner thanks to Jaguar design chief Ian Callum and his associate, Wayne Burgess.
As a coupe, the F-Type sensuously flows from prow to truncated stern in a way only a Jaguar can. Muscular rear haunches are a hallmark of Callum’s sports cars design, an element he says is essential to the Jaguar esthetic.
Tested here, this bright red topcat SVR (about $160,000 as tested) represents the pinnacle of the lineup. Its supercharged 5.0-litre V-8 engine, with 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, sends power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also sends — courtesy of its titanium exhaust — an aural barrage of barks, farts, cackles, backfires and all other manner of anti-social volleys. Somehow, this is legal.
Yet, on this excursion to the rolling Halton Hills in Ontario, the F-Type is not garnering the usual gawks. Blame my good friend Russ Little and his 1974 Jaguar E-Type V12 roadster for that. All eyes are drawn to the lithe silver siren that ethereally glides down the road behind my growling, winged brute.
Do they care that the SVR has twice the power, twice the number of gears, twice as many driven wheels and can blow through the 100 km/h mark in 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 322 km/ h? Nah. We don’t care, either.
This drive is all about experiencing the old and the new, the final year of the E-Type along with Jag’s latest muscle-bound F-Type. Ideally, we would’ve used the $143,500 F-Type SVR convertible for this, but since none were available, we’ll settle for the $140,500 coupe.
By the numbers, the 1974 E-Type’s 5.3-L V12, with its four SU carburetors, makes 268 hp, 304 lb-ft of torque and propels the roadster from zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. It also purrs like — it must be said — a big cat.
Against the F-Type’s theatrics and histrionics, the E-Type emits a stately, mellifluous song.
Time to hop into the silver time machine and slip back 44 years. The E-Type’s featherweight door shuts with a mechanical click reminiscent of an old fridge. The dash is close, the pencil-thin-rimmed wheel even closer. It’s a tight cabin and you do feel exposed in here: The Jag ’s low cowl line and small seats with short backs are completely at odds with all the protection found in a modern car. Those with long arms could probably drag their knuckles on the pavement.
I twist the tiny ignition key, but the big twelve doesn’t light. Oh yeah, no fuel injection. Russ gives me some coaching: “Give the throttle a couple of quick jabs, twist the key and when it catches, give it a little gas. After that, you can let it idle. And wait a bit before shifting to second. The synchros are getting weak.” Ah, so much character. So British.
I’m not even going to look for an oil patch underneath. I pull away, managing not to crunch second gear, and soon the quintessential wind-in-the-hair experience is ours. This V12 Jag is all about the cruise. It’s a very relaxed roadster with light steering, somewhat floaty body control and smooth torque delivery. If you were to drive it like a hooligan you might get an admonishing letter from the Queen.
Indeed, these two Jaguar sports cars are a universe apart when it comes to the driving experience.
Yet, despite that, it’s not hard to see a connection that spans the 44 years. They are both exclusive, undeniably gorgeous to behold, and built solely for one pursuit: The passion of motoring. Timeless indeed.