First came the convertible and now comes the coupe, and Jaguar seems to be purring all of a sudden with this version of the F-Type model making the brand even stronger.
Is it better than the convertible? Yes, both to drive and to look at.
The design wizardry has really come to the fore with this model and looks especially striking in red with chrome or in white with a panoramic roof.
If this car had came out of Maranello, purists would be falling over themselves. Design guru Ian Callum and his able deputy Al Whelan, take a bow gentlemen, you have produced the most stunning car ever to leave a Jaguar plant in my lifetime.
Performance
/5
In a word: epic. We drove the mid-range model on test; the rear-wheel drive F-Type S Coupe is powered by a 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 producing 374bhp and 460Nm of torque. It's mated to a smooth eight-speed semi-automatic Quickshift gearbox and for quicker changes, when in manual mode, there are paddle-shifters located under the steering wheel.
Step on the accelerator and the car is blisteringly quick, making short work of the benchmark sprint by completing it in 4.8 seconds while it can hit a top speed of 171mph.
If you want a toy, this is not a bad start. However the flagship R is even more potent. Porsche you have been warned…
Ride and handling
/5
This car is faster, sharper to drive and much stiffer than the convertible. In fact, Jaguar claims that the torsional rigidity has been improved by 80%.
This makes the car handle even better than the convertible. The chassis is top class while the all-aluminium shell makes the car feel light.
If you want a comfortable ride then open the Dynamic I menu on the touchscreen and make sure the suspension settings is on normal. However, if driving enthusiastically, then make sure the car is set-up to Dynamic by flicking the switch with the chequered flag on it in the centre console.
The steering weights up nicely, the throttle sharpens and the note of the exhaust gets a little more raucous – on downshift the burble is very pleasing.
If you prefer not to have this type of music filtering through the cabin then you can switch the exhaust note down with another button located on the central console.
Ultimately, the F-type Coupe is a proper driver’s car, however the R is even better set-up than the S model.
Practicality
/5
Coupes are not known for their practicality but this Jag is spacious.
The brand is calling it a 1+1 - there are two seats up front with no fiddly +1 offerings in the rear.
Space inside the car is actually quite good while the F-Type Coupe offers a load space of 407 litres, which is more than a Porsche 911, easily swallowing two sets of golf clubs or a couple of cases for a long weekend away.
Equipment
/5
Plenty of kit comes on the mid-level model. Highlights include Active Sports exhaust, sports suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, 20-inch wheels, suede cloth sports seats and a leather steering wheel, stop/start system to keep emissions low, and a choice of three audio systems with either 10 or 12 speakers.
Ceramic brakes can be chosen as an optional extra and are advisable if you drive enthusiastically, as they are tangibly better than the standard brakes.
Running costs
4/5
On test, we drove the rear-wheel drive F-Type S Coupe with the 3.0-litre Supercharged V6 producing 374bhp priced from £60,235.
For the majority of buyers this is going to be a second or third car bought to enjoy at weekends but, nonetheless, the running costs are competitive.
It will average 31mpg if you can control your light foot and it emits 213g/km of CO2 thanks to the lightweight structure and the stop/start technology.
Verdict
/5
The F-Type Coupe has arrived. It will take conquest sales of other marques and, in my eyes, this car has every chance of being a future classic – it might even be classed as better than the E-Type - Jaguar’s most iconic car in its history.
It's a bold statement but this Coupe has all the charm, class and driving dynamics to do so. Final words? The F-Type Coupe is abso-bloody-lutely brilliant.
