Symbol of a New Era for Jaguar

Fundamentally, we are a manufacturer of pure sports cars.—The Jaguar brand, in particular, has been emphasizing this stance in recent times.

In the past, Jaguar carried an image of being a manufacturer excelling in luxury sedans, primarily for an older demographic. The "XJ Saloon" from the previous generation, in particular, could be said to symbolize the "gentlemanly Jaguar."



However, the current promotional activities and, more importantly, the products themselves, increasingly emphasize the brand's active and youthful sporty character.



For instance, consider the current "XJ Saloon" which debuted in 2009, with its remarkably fluid and dynamic styling, a stark contrast to the previous three generations. Witnessing it,—whether one agrees with its extreme transformation is another matter,—it is undeniably clear that this brand has been attempting a company-defining image change over the past few years.



And symbolizing this new era of sporty and active Jaguars is the "F-Type," which, accompanied by the phrase "the first two-seater sports car in 50 years," first debuted as an open-top model last year.F-Type.



What we introduce here is the coupe version, added this year.Coupe versionIt is clear that the F-Type model, including its name, was developed with homage to the highly successful "E-Type" of the 1960s and 70s.



One can easily agree with the opinion that "the coupe version, with its stylish and flowing roofline, rivaling the classic E-Type Coupe, is the true essence of the F-Type."

A "Full Two-Seater" Packaging

Now that the F-Type Coupe has finally arrived in Japan, its most striking feature is undoubtedly its styling.



The front section, with its long, sleek nose that evokes the classic E-Type, is naturally the same design as the convertible. Above this, the roofline, which forms a smooth descending line from the driver's head to the tail end, expresses the flowing elegance unique to the coupe model with its fixed roof.



The cabin area, strongly creased on both sides, features a gate that opens at the width of the taillights. Internally, this is naturally the luggage space. With a published volume of 315 liters up to the tonneau cover, the initial impression is that it's about three times the capacity of the convertible.



In fact, the convertible only offers enough trunk space to barely fit one carry-on suitcase of airline cabin size. Compared to this, the coupe's significantly improved practicality is evident.



While the convertible, with luggage for two people, would require some items to be placed on the passenger's lap, making it effectively a "1+1" configuration, the coupe boasts a package that can genuinely be called a "full two-seater."

Commitment to Driving Performance

The coupe is offered in three main grades, primarily distinguished by their engines, similar to the convertible. The base and S grades are equipped with a 3-liter V6 engine, as in the convertible. However, for the coupe, the grade equipped with a 5-liter V8 engine is the R grade, which does not exist in the convertible lineup.



The R Coupe's engine is a dedicated unit with an increase of 55 ps in maximum output and 55 Nm in maximum torque compared to the convertible version. Furthermore, it incorporates dedicated tuning for the suspension and features like "Torque Vectoring by Braking," touted as a first for a Jaguar, demonstrating a commitment to driving performance.



Consequently, while the base and S grades are priced over 1.5 million yen less than their convertible counterparts, the R grade with the V8 engine is priced exactly the same as the convertible S grade. This positions the R Coupe as a "distinctly sporty and special model" among all F-Type variants.



Settling into the driver's seat of the S grade, I felt as if I were becoming one with the car, a sensation befitting a pure sports car.

What More Could One Ask For?

Upon starting to drive, the first impression is that the body is significantly stiffer than the convertible's. Indeed, data shows an 80% increase in torsional rigidity compared to the convertible, a difference readily felt through the reduced vibrations transmitted to the steering column and rearview mirror.



While the basic design of the 3-liter V6 engine with a mechanical supercharger is shared, the tuned engine and 8-speed automatic transmission deliver power that can only be described as "What more could one ask for?" – an overwhelming force.



The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 4.9 seconds, only 0.1 seconds slower than the latest Porsche 911 Carrera MT specification.




The thrilling sound from the exhaust and the acceleration, coupled with the 8-speed automatic transmission's tight shifts, comparable to a DCT, further enhance the exhilarating experience for any driving enthusiast.



While the S Coupe was impressive, switching to the R Coupe immediately makes one feel that "this is surely the superior option."

The Jaguar Brand Today

Both the S and R coupes we tested feature electronically controlled variable damping as standard. Consequently, despite wearing large, wide tires (19-inch for the former, 20-inch for the latter), the ride is actually smoother than the base grade, which uses conventional dampers.



The handling is characterized by the typical agility of a sports car. Comparatively, the S grade, with its "more compact engine" mounted further back in the "front mid-ship" position, offers a slightly more responsive turn-in. However, even the R grade does not feel ponderous, like swinging a paperweight.



As expected from a well-executed FR sports car, the ability to control the rear end with precise throttle application during cornering is a thrill for skilled drivers. The R grade's high level of driving performance is epitomized by the profound sense of "unity between driver and car," even with its V8 engine producing well over 500 ps.



Perhaps some might question why Jaguar needs to pursue such a pure sports car. There are undoubtedly those who preferred Jaguar's era of crafting gentlemanly sedans.



However, the current Jaguar brand has embarked on a path of transformation, fully aware of such sentiments. I strongly support Jaguar's approach to forging its own unique premium brand, distinct from German manufacturers.


Jaguar F-Type Coupe│Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Body Size│Length 4,470 × Width 1,925 × Height 1,315 mm

Wheelbase│2,620 mm

Minimum Turning Radius│5.2 m

Engine│2,994 cc V6 DOHC Supercharged

Maximum Output│250 kW (340 ps) / 6,500 rpm

Maximum Torque│450 Nm / 3,500 rpm

Compression Ratio│10.5:1

Transmission│8-speed Automatic

Weight│1,730 kg

0-100 km/h Acceleration│5.3 seconds

Tank Capacity│72 liters

Price│8.23 million yen



Jaguar F-Type S Coupe│Jaguar F-Type S Coupe

Body Size│Length 4,470 × Width 1,925 × Height 1,315 mm

Wheelbase│2,620 mm

Minimum Turning Radius│5.2 m

Engine│2,994 cc V6 DOHC Supercharged

Maximum Output│280 kW (380 ps) / 6,500 rpm

Maximum Torque│460 Nm / 3,500 rpm

Compression Ratio│10.5:1

Transmission│8-speed Automatic

0-100 km/h Acceleration│4.9 seconds

Tank Capacity│72 liters

Price│10.29 million yen



Jaguar F-Type R Coupe│Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

Body Size│Length 4,470 × Width 1,925 × Height 1,315 mm

Wheelbase│2,620 mm

Minimum Turning Radius│5.2 m

Engine│4,999 cc V8 DOHC Supercharged

Maximum Output│495 kW (550 ps) / 6,500 rpm

Maximum Torque│680 Nm / 2,500-5,500 rpm

Compression Ratio│9.5:1

Transmission│8-speed Automatic

0-100 km/h Acceleration│4.2 seconds

Tank Capacity│70 liters

Price│12.86 million yen



Jaguar Call
0120-050-689 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, excluding weekends and holidays)