Top-down affair with F-Type SVR is definitely not a cheap date
In case the regular Jaguar F-Type R, with 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque is just not fast enough, loud enough or expensive enough, Jaguar has your back.
The SVR iteration of what is arguably the most beautiful twoseater on the road punches for the sky with some bad-boy body bits, a 5.0-litre supercharged V-8 goosed to 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, and a bellicose titanium exhaust system. The SVR’s forward thrust is breathtaking, and on overrun it cackles, farts and backfires like the Wicked Witch of the West at a chili-eating contest. Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Actually, it’s Georgia. I’m driving this 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR Convertible from Atlanta to Amelia Island, Florida, where we will partake in festivities celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar D -Type’s sweep at Le Mans, hence the cool stripes and number 60 on the door.
The 2017 F-Type SVR is available in both coupe ($142,000) and convertible ($145,000), representing a $23,500 hike over the R models that also run with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed ZF manumatic transmission. Further differentiation comes from the SVR’s forged 20-inch alloys with 20 millimetre wider tires, sharpened suspension and steering, and quicker shifts from the transmission. The big wing on the rear deck doesn’t retract into the bodywork but it does rise and extend back at speed or when dynamic mode is selected.
Without having a “regular” R model for comparison, it’s hard to tell how much different this top-dog F is, as the lesser model is mighty impressive in its own right, being very fast, very vocal and yes, very sexy.
Still, bragging rights cost, and the SVR certainly has those. With a top speed of 323 km/h (cresting the magic 200 m.p.h. mark), this is the fastest production Jag to date. It also gets to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, which is 0.4 second faster than the R.
Our drive is mostly winding back roads with some highway jaunts thrown in, and this is where the car shines. Jaguar might be positioning the SVR against some premium German sports cars, but it is more grand tourer than hyper apex carver. At 1,720 kg, the SVR Convertible is a porky cat and it feels it, preferring long sweepers and eyeball-compressing bursts of acceleration over sharp turns and quick transitions. But on a day like today, with the top down and the Georgia countryside streaming by, everything is just peachy.
The SVR’s interior gets dressed up with acres of Alcantara, “lozenge” stitching on the snug seats and larger, real aluminum shift paddles (thankfully replacing the cheapo plastic ones found in lesser F-Types). The cabin has an intimate, cockpit-like feel and on this long-haul day my derrière lodged no complaints. Sadly, the SVR is still saddled with the oldgeneration infotainment head, which is slow and creaky.
As the first Jaguar to wear the SVR badge (Special Vehicle Operations), the 575-h.p. F-Type SVR’s pricing might seem steep at first blush, but it looks like a bargain when pitted against a Porsche 911 Turbo or Mercedes-AMG GT. With its style, speed and exclusivity, it’s an iron fist in an exquisite aluminum glove.