‘’The car sells itself’’. These are the words we’ve heard from several salesmen about the new Jaguar F-Type. This beautiful roadster is the highlight of the reincarnation of the brand Jaguar, they’ve finally thrown away all of their discomfiture. Cool, elegant, and sporty at the same time. This is the ideal Jaguar to make the image of the company look younger and give it a big boost. During our first date with the Jaguar F-Type, it were the jabs of pleasure and adrenaline which made us fall in love with the car surreptitiously.
Elegant and timeless. These words have been the key words for Jaguars’ design for years now. Jaguar was a manufacturer with few refreshing designs for many years. The company didn’t go with the time. Over the last eight years or so, this changed dramatically and the company now tries to conquer the market with a new scala of models. This happens with sporty cars like the XKR-S in flashy colours, but also the known models are revolutionary compared to the old. Take the XJ for example, it is way saucier than the BMW 7-Series or Audi A8, which are just boring German business limousines. This means that some old-fashioned customers have moved on, but also that many new customers were gained.
Thanks to Munsterhuis Sportscars, we have the disposition of a Polaris White Jaguar F-Type for an afternoon. This copy has got the 3.0 liter V6 with 340 hp and an Active Exhaust System. The 340 hp is the lightest engine available for this car. Further, there is a more powerful three liter V6 with 380 hp and as a final, a 495 hp strong V8. Still, it doesn’t matter that much what engine the car uses, it’s the total image which makes it to a great car. It steers smoothly, with many sense and very directly. For a good impression, we drove it through the Sallandse Heuvelrug, over the Holterbergweg and the Rietslenkpad. These are one of the best pieces of tarmac you can find in the Netherlands, perfect to learn to know cars like the F-Type. It’s a car which keeps on encouraging you to look for corners. Next to that, the car produces a fabulous sound thanks to the optional Active Exhaust System. A more extended driving report will follow later this year.
The car is a cross-pullunation of emotion, great handling and sexy lines. Still, I think these are too many words to describe the class of the car. The story of the F-Type started for me last year in Paris, when Lana Del Rey sang her own song at the Museé Rodin during the introduction of the F-Type. The song Burning Desire really suits the car. It really becomes something you’re starting to long to. A car you dream about, a car you would take on a Sunday morning along a coastal route. The car is one of the best looking cars of the moment, without a doubt.
Ian Callum, Director of Design at Jaguar, precisely explained how they’ve meant the F-Type to look like. It’s a modern interpretation of the E-Type with its long nose and short tail. The C-X16 concept car from 2011 already was the first indication for the F-Type. The car has got two essential elements for making the design to a success. The first line starts at the shark-like gills, which spans from the bonnet and over the door to the back. Second, there is the so-called heartline, which is the strong hip which continues in the taillights. According to Callum, these are the lines which characterize the design of the F-Type
Jaguar developed the F-Type as a real drivers car. This focus on the driver’s involvement can be seen at the interior. Jaguar chose for a one plus one lay-out with an assymetric interior. Everything is opposed to the driver’s direction and is completed with a knob for the passenger. Due this, Jaguar clearly shows the difference between driver and passenger.
Can we already judge about this car after this short introduction? Yes and no. the F-Type will be a garuanteed bestseller, that’s a fact. This is the most driver orientated car Jaguar has made since years. but, just an afternoon of driving is too short to get an proper impression of the car. For now, it’s love on the first sight for us, these jabs will stay until our next appointment with the car. To be continued!
Photography by Adam van Noort
Special thanks to Munsterhuis Sportscars
