[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he first new car I bought was a 1967 Jaguar XKE Coupe and I always thought it was the epitome of a sports car. But, after spending a week behind the wheel of the beautiful new 2016 Jaguar F TYPE Coupe, I think the E has met its match.
The F TYPE has a seductive design, delivers stunning performance and handles the highway with amazing agility. It is everything a sports car aficionado would want or expect from a Jaguar sports car.
There are new power train and driveline options available for the first time in 2016. That includes all-wheel drive and manual transmission models, and an F-TYPE R Convertible, which broaden the F-TYPE range from six to 14 possible configurations.
The addition of all-wheel drive (AWD), with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics, extends the F-TYPE’s performance capability. With a 5.0-litre supercharged V-8 engine, both the AWD F-TYPE R Coupé and Convertible clock 0-60 mph in a head-snapping 3.9 seconds, and they top out at 186 mph, though that’s a limited top speed and I am certain it has even faster capability.
If you like your Jaguar with a manual transmission, then you can have it this year. Jag engineers came up with a smooth shifting six-speed manual gearbox option for the F-TYPE. It’s available only for the 3.0- litre supercharged V-6 engine in rear-wheel drive configuration, so it’s optional on both the F-TYPE and F-TYPE S Coupé and Convertible rear-wheel drive supercharged V-6 models. Electric Power Assisted Steering delivers even better road handling precision and feel. Torque Vectoring by Braking improves agility and — standard on R versions — is now available on V-6 models.
Sport Design Packs for F-TYPE Coupé and Convertible models enhance exterior styling and allow more personalization with a spoke splitter, sills, venturi and — for the Coupé — a fixed rear spoiler, while AWD models have a unique hood design with a deeper power bulge and distinctive new side vents.
On the inside, the dashboard instrument cluster has new dials and gauges, and the navigation system routes much faster, with SD card-based mapping available for the first time.
New infotainment systems have fast, intuitive operation and support Apple and Android smartphone connectivity. InControl Secure and InControl Remote telematics help deter auto thieves. If the car is stolen, InControl Secure alerts you via a smartphone app and works with law enforcement to locate and recover it. When you are away from the car, InControl Remote lets you use your smartphone to check information such as the fuel or door lock status. You can even start the engine and enable the climate control system to cool or heat the car before you leave home or the restaurant.
Pricing
The base MSRP on my 2016 Jaguar F TYPE R Coupe test vehicle was $102,825.
[author image=”http://www.samaonline.org/Ron.jpg” ]Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext. 261, or by addressing email correspondence to LetsTalkCars@aol.com.[/author]
