STILL DROP-DEAD SEXY
The successor to the iconic E-Type retains Jag’s hallmark long hood and curvy hips
PORTO, PORTUGAL When Jaguar pulled the wraps off its F-Type sports car almost eight years ago, there was a lot riding on those fetching flanks. Being the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type — a car Enzo Ferrari himself called the most beautiful in the world — expectations were higher than the front row at a Grateful Dead concert. No pressure, then.
Turns out, Jaguar design chief Ian Callum and his team scored big, penning a shape that looked to the future as much as adhering to the hallmarks of Jaguar sports car design — a flowing, sensuous, long hood and curvaceous hips.
As I’m pulling into a tiny village in central Portugal in a 2021 F-Type convertible, it seems the entire population has come to the cobblestoned central square to gawk at our convoy. Yep, the two-seat Jaguar still looks drop-dead sexy.
Modern LED headlight technology allows for Jag’s new, super-slim peepers, and while the 2021’s grille is slightly larger, the re-contoured hood tapers dramatically, giving the F-Type a sleeker and more shark-like countenance. Out back, we see a tweaked rear bumper and tail lights. Hats off to Jaguar for pulling off such a natural transformation.
Not much has changed within the F-Type’s cabin, save for the latest Touch Pro infotainment (complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and embedded Spotify) and a new, configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that replaces the traditional analog binnacle. Oh, and all F-Types now get proper metal shift paddles instead of those flimsy plastic things — yay. Also for 2021, the manual transmission is off the menu — boo. Actually, it’s not such a bad thing, as the
F-Type’s ropy six-speed gearbox was nothing to write home about.
The F-Type’s stylish and intimate cabin is holding up well, spelling “sports car” the minute you slide into the snugly contoured seats and peer over the long bonnet. As before, the central dash-top vent rises on startup, adding just a bit of theatre.
My ride for the morning was the rear-wheel-drive, four-cylinder P300 convertible. I know what you’re thinking: “A 296-horsepower turbo-four? Gimme a break, and then gimme the fire-breathing 575-hp V8 F-Type R.”
Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret — the four-pot F-Type P300 hits the sweet spot on these smooth and snaking roads. The lighter front end, rear-wheel drive, and better overall balance gives it playful poise, quick turn-in, and a fantastic sense of dynamic harmony. Plus, the P300’s helm vaults to the front of the class when it comes to electric steering.
The chassis also gets new springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, along with more aluminum suspension bits. The P300 does not get the adaptive damping or electronic limited-slip differential of its allwheel-drive V8 sibling, but it’s no worse for it. Granted, the 2.0-litre turbo-four won’t raise the hairs on the back of your neck, but as far as engines of this ilk go, it’s a good one. It delivers its 296 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque in a smooth, linear fashion, and manages to sound pretty good while doing so, thanks to the active exhaust.
The 2021 F-Type R boasts a supercharged 5.0-L V8 with 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.
Keeping things somewhat in check is the standard rear-biased AWD system and clever electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. The F-Type R also benefits from reworked steering, suspension, stability control, and wider tires. Despite all this, the F-Type R still manages to feel slightly unhinged. Throttle response is instantaneous and in Sport mode, the retuned, ZF-manufactured eight-speed automatic slams the gears home with force and quickness that rivals the best dual-clutch gearboxes.
For 2021, not only is there a selectable quiet startup model, but noise regulations have also necessitated the nixing of those alarming backfires on lift off. Not to worry, though — the throaty rumble, barks and gurgles return when the sport exhaust is activated.
Jaguar has streamlined the North American F-Type stable from 16 to just six variants: the four-cylinder P300 in coupe or convertible ($73,000 and $76,000, respectively), ditto for the 380hp, 3.0-L supercharged V6 AWD P380 ($95,500 and $98,500, respectively) and the 575-hp AWD R ($119,000 and $121,500, respectively). There will also be limited-run First Edition variants of the V6 model, offered at $101,000 for the coupe and extra $2,000 for the ragtop.
Driving.ca