Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe 2014 Review

Arriving in Australia a year after the F-TYPE Convertible, the fixed-roof coupe version of Jaguar's all-new two-seat sports car is now also available in three variants -- two supercharged 3.0-litre V6s and a blown 5.0-litre V8. Unlike the roadster, though, pricing starts at under $120,000 for the base F-TYPE Coupe with 250kW/450Nm, while the 280kW/460Nm F-TYPE S Coupe costs $151,830 (plus ORCs). That makes them almost $19,000 cheaper than their equivalent convertible models, yet the range-topping F-TYPE R Coupe (from $219,130) costs almost $18,000 more than the F-TYPE V8 S Convertible. However, a more potent 404.5kW/680Nm V8 isn't the only trick up the sleeve of the top-shelf F-TYPE R.

Unlike most, I wasn't all that enamoured with the F-TYPE Convertible.

Sure, the V6s sound almost as glorious as the V8 and all models have plenty of road presence, but without variable damping the base model's brittle suspension presented a choppy ride, sapped confidence in rear-end grip, and revealed shortcomings in the open-top body's rigidity at last year's local launch.

And with a tight interior offering next to no storage, and a boot that's practically useless, the F-TYPE roadster's form-over-function packaging falls well short of its chief rivals led by the Porsche Boxster, which costs at least $37,000 less.

But as we've discovered at this week's launch of the F-TYPE Coupe, which took in 500km and more than six hours of driving along the Putty Road from Sydney to Singleton and back, the hard-top F-TYPE addresses almost all of those issues.

And it does so for less money – at least in the case of the V6 models, which curiously weren't available to drive from launch, leaving us to test only the top-spec F-TYPE R Coupe, which we much preferred to the F-TYPE S Coupe at the international launch in April.

Put aside for a moment the fact the only R-badged F-TYPE costs almost $18K more than the less powerful V8 S Convertible, around $100,000 more than the cheapest F-TYPE Coupe, about $13,000 more than Porsche's base 911 and almost $60,000 more than even the most expensive Cayman coupe.

And ignore for now the extensive and outrageously priced options list, which even for the $220K 'R' includes a digital radio receiver ($600), tyre pressure monitoring ($750), a powered tailgate ($1100), digital TV ($1500), panoramic glass sunroof ($2000), 770-Watt Meridian sound system ($6900) and a carbon-ceramic braking kit including yellow callipers unique 20-inch alloys and stainless steel pedal covers (from $17,360).

Because the F-TYPE R is a cracking coupe, exuding more street-cred than the flimsier-feeling roadster and realising the full aesthetic potential of what is an undeniably gorgeous sports car, even if it looks like different designers created the front- and rear-ends.

Yes, rear and rear-side vision is still diabolical, especially when the pop-up wing deploys automatically at 113km/h (or via the push of a button), and cabin storage still includes a small glovebox, tiny door pockets and a meagre under-armrest compartment.

But the coupe adds a central cubby hole in the rear bulkhead and cargo space expands from just 196 litres under the roadster's bootlid (and a pathetic 148 litres with the temporary spare fitted, as well as the standard repair kit), to a more useful 315 litres or, without spare, 407 litres under the coupe's liftback.

Without the standard luggage cover and space-saver spare, Jag says that's enough to swallow two golf clubs, but the mid-engined Cayman offers a boot at each end, and the rear-engined 911 gets one up front and two rear seats that can be folded to store far more.

The F-TYPE cabin is as well-appointed as it is cosseting, offering a real sense of occasion – especially in fully-optioned R guise with a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel with shift paddles, sumptuous premium sports seats and soft double-stitched premium leather lining everything from the seats and doors to the dash and headlining.

Unique touches include pop-out door-handles, pop-up central air-vents and ambient LED interior lighting, while all models also come standard with bi-xenon headlights with washers and LED signature lights, LED tail-lights, auto headlights and wipers, heated/folding power mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, a trip computer, electric steering wheel adjustment, 6x6-way power seat adjustment, eight-inch colour touch-screen, 380-Watt Meridian surround sound system, CD/DVD player, sat-nav, Bluetooth telephony and five-inch colour TFT instrument display.

Naturally, there's a full suite of safety gear, including front and front/side airbags, stability/traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, rear parking sensors and an electric parking brake.

However, blind-spot monitoring and closing vehicle sensing, and even a reversing camera, front parking sensors and dual-zone ventilation cost extra.

The R looks the part outside too, with unique 20-inch alloys, twin outboard exhaust outlets and a more menacing body kit comprising gloss black side sill extensions and two-piece raised bonnet vents.

Further highlighting its exclusivity is a 'Super Performance Braking System' with red callipers, while chassis upgrades shared with the F-TYPE S include an active electronic differential, Adaptive Dynamics suspension and an active sports exhaust.

Specific to the R is unique (read: firmer) suspension tune, torque vectoring, a switchable active exhaust and configurable Dynamic mode, which allows drivers to choose custom combinations of sportier engine, transmission, steering and damping settings.

The undoubted highlight of this is the active exhaust button, which transforms the 400kW-plus blown V8's magnificent standard exhaust note into a spine-tingling automotive orchestra. Unleashed in a tunnel – at either full-noise or crackling on the overrun – it's a mechanical masterpiece unmatched by anything this side of a Ferrari.

But while it sounds and – arguably – looks better than a Cayman or 911, on the road the 1650kg Jaguar always feels heavier than both coupes, because it is... by between 250 and 300kg. It also feels more solid than the convertible, despite undercutting it by 15kg in V8 guise.

This makes the R Coupe's undeniably epic performance all the more astonishing. At 4.2 seconds, the R's claimed 0-100km/h figure is around the same as the Carrera S 911's but about a second slower than the less powerful 911 Turbo, yet it feels quicker than that.

While the 911 accelerates with ruthless efficiency, the flamboyant fanfare with which the top F-TYPE goes about its business always makes it feel and sound about as quick, despite the lack of manual or dual-clutch automatic transmissions. Instead, like all F-TYPES, the R comes with an eight-speed ZF Quickshift automatic transmission with shift paddles.

At higher speeds, its torque-laden big-bore V8 piles on so much pace it makes finding enough road to stretch its legs difficult, yet its 295-section rear tyres are up to the task, providing enough cornering grip to make activating the F-TYPE's stability control system a rare occurrence even on tight, greasy surfaces.

Further demonstrating Jaguar's engineering accomplishment, the R turns in crisply and offers plenty of feedback without being encumbered by rack rattle or bump steer.

But it never feels as intimate as a Cayman or 911, even with their new electric steering systems, and although ride quality is reasonable in comfort mode its firm suspension lacks the compliance – especially in sports mode – of any Porsche.

Frankly, we're surprised by how hard-core the F-TYPE R is, and it makes us wonder just how much Jaguar can improve on its potent performance with the inevitable F-TYPE SVR flagship.

Taking some weight out would help, but as it stands the finest F-TYPE is already a match for its closest competitor in terms of style, sound, exclusivity and emotion – at a price.

2014 Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe price and spec:
Price: $219,130 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre eight-cylinder supercharged-petrol
Output: 404.5kW/680Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 259g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

What we liked:
>> Exclusivity
>> Style and presence
>> Sound and performance

Not so much:
>> Brittle ride
>> Poor vision, cargo space
>> No manual, expensive options