JAGUAR F-TYPE
Power aside, can the oldest car of our trio compete with its newer rivals? Paul Walton finds out…
If this competition was based on looks alone, only Oedipus, the blind king of Thebes, would have considered either of the German cars better than the British one. If he only had their exhaust notes to go on, he’d still put the Jaguar ahead, but we’ll come to this shortly.
Admittedly, this Eiger Grey F-TYPE is a coupé, while the 718 and Z4 we’re testing are convertibles, but the Jaguar’s perfect proportions, elegant haunches and crisp-yet-aggressive lines make it immeasurably better looking than the ‘gopping’ Bimmer or boring Boxster.
As a perfect piece of modern(ish) cool Britannia, it subtly nods back to the E-type of the 1960s, but without being a retro cliché. You don’t need to know Jaguar’s history to appreciate this car.
The 2019 facelift did much to keep the F-TYPE fresh. The slimmer LED lights appear more modern than the larger original units and, looking at the car, it’s hard to believe this is a model first seen almost a decade ago. I will concede the other two-seaters in our test boast arguably better interiors — the materials used throughout the Jaguar lack the unmistakable solidness that sets most German cars apart from their rivals. The plastic isn’t quite as thick, the leather not quite as soft, the chrome trim not quite as shiny, but like the exterior, the cabin can still hold its own in the design stakes, especially when compared to that of the BMW, which could have been lifted out of a 1 Series hatchback and carries a huge touchscreen dominating the centre console to the detriment of the overall design.
I have to be honest here and admit this particular F-TYPE has the new 444bhp version of Jaguar’s V8 under the bonnet. Since the BMW and Porsche on test are four-cylinder models, I feel as though I’m bringing a tank to a knife fight. Obviously, Jaguar’s own 296bhp turbocharged fourcylinder powerplant would be a more appropriate rival, but alas, one wasn’t available on the day. I still reckon it would have the legs on either of these cars,