2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Review

As the stepping stone to Jaguar’s future, it isn’t without irony that the F-Type is essentially the spiritual successor to the legendary Jaguar E-Type. The E-Type was dropped in 1975, and in the years 40 since, Jaguar has been lacking a true mass-produced sports car. Now, Jaguar has had plenty of sporty cars since then, but few have had the same impact as the E-Type. For starters, the E-Type is easily one of the best-looking cars ever designed, and on top of that, it embodied a pure enthusiasm that is hard to find in cars these days. Blending both attributes, the F-Type is drop-dead gorgeous (in both convertible and coupe models) and it brings back the driving emotion that Jaguar has been missing from its products.

For years, Jaguar has been promising a true rival to the Porsche 911 – something the heavy Jaguar XK grand touring coupe could never fully accomplish – and came to fruition in 2013 with the launch of the F-Type Convertible. We were able to test the 2014 F-Type S Convertible with its supercharged V-6 shortly after the F-Type was introduced, but now it was finally time to put some miles on the all-new Coupe model in the V-8-powered F-Type R trim.

The beauty of the F-Type definitely plays into the E-Type’s legacy, and while this new design is hardly a retro job, you can still see some cues from the classic, timeless Jag like the long hood and the arched rear fenders. The Coupe builds on the already-stunning F-Type Convertible by adding even more attitude to this design with its sloped roof and fastback rear end.

Up front, the face of the F-Type pays homage to the E-Type with its oval-shaped headlights and grille opening. Even at night, there is no mistaking the F-Type for any other car on the road when it pulls up behind you thanks to the distinctive LED accents. Various vents in the fascia, hood and fenders provide ample cooling to the engine and brakes, and add just enough to the styling without looking too theatrical.

Therefore, these cars get cool door pulls that sit flush when the car is locked and pop out when you hit the unlock button mixing the style of an Aston Martin or Nissan GT-R with the functionality of the Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing. I only mention this because it creates a somewhat unique inconvenience while photographing the car since, like the SLS, every time the car is repositioned for a shot, the doors must be locked to tuck the handles away to maintain the clean appearance. Talk about first world problems, huh?

Following the lines of the roof and hatchback, the rear of the F-Type is equally appealing with its short overhang, quad exhaust outlets and the cat-eye taillights, and this is also the only place you’re going to find the Jaguar “Leaper” on the exterior of the car. It is affixed to the retractable rear spoiler, which doesn’t look pretty when it’s raised up (speeds topping 70 mph/113 kph), but it does improve performance by increasing downforce by 265 pounds (120 kg).

Aside from the fact that this tester didn’t come in British Racing Green, my only criticism about the F-Type Coupe might be the small, oddly shaped rear window, but this is only an issue for me on cars not equipped with the optional panoramic sunroof… like my tester. Still, it’s hard to find any real faults in this design, and it still looks damn good painted up in Polaris White with the red brake calipers peering out from behind the split-spoke 20-inch wheels. Viewed from any angle, the whole car seems hunkered down and ready to pounce, and that’s where the “R” in F-Type R Coupe comes into play.

Backing up its devilishly good looks, the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s widely used the 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 packed under the forward-hinged aluminum hood. There are two lesser V-6 models out with a high-performance SVR version on the way, but the F-Type R is the top performing model right now with 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet (680 Nm) of torque at its disposal. With this combination, the rear-drive F-Type is able to lay down a 0-60 time of four seconds along with a top speed that is limited to 186 mph (300 km/h).

Regardless of engine, all versions of the 2015 F-Type come with the ZF eight-speed automatic, and one of the biggest downsides of this car is that it wasn’t launched with a manual gearbox. The 2016 model year changes that with the addition of a six-speed manual, but even then, you can’t get this transmission with the V-8. The good news here is that the “QuickShift” automatic does an incredible job with performance without the quirkiness that generally goes with a more advanced dual-clutch transmission.

Press the start button and the engine roars to life with a deep growl that embodies the Jaguar positioned in the grille, but starting the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is just half the fun. With the active mode engaged, the exhaust makes some of the most incredible noises with pops, burbles and crackles. During my week with the F-Type, I found myself driving around town in Dynamic Mode frequently holding second gear and blipping the throttle. It’s the type of thing that garners thumbs up, smiles or head nods from enthusiasts and dirty looks from those who just don’t get it… including one of my neighbors (who happens to drive a Subaru).

The true test of the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe comes out on the road, because, after all, it takes more than a pretty face and a great exhaust note to take on cars like the Porsche 911. Even before I took it out for a spin, it’s clear chassis rigidity was paramount to this car’s construction just judging by the aluminum braces exposed behind the seats (and not including any additional braces hidden behind the interior trim panels).

My time with the F-Type was limited to daily driving, which means I wasn’t able to get this car out on a track, but it’s easy to get a feel for just how responsive it is. The steering input is direct and gives the driver great feedback, while the Electronic Active Differential with torque vectoring is great for distributing torque across both rear wheels when traction is needed. Even without fancy (and expensive) carbon ceramic brakes, the F-Type Coupe is able to stop on a dime.

Handling and performance were definitely a priority over ride quality, but that’s the same situation with the 911, Chevy Corvette and Nissan GT-R. If you’re looking for a smooth-riding coupe, Jaguar will gladly show you its XK grand tourer, but if you’re looking to show up your Porsche buddies, the F-Type is the way to go. Thanks to an extensive use of aluminum, the F-Type feels light and energetic when pushed through the turns, but I was extremely surprised when I saw how the F-Type stacks up against the 911. The lightest version of the F-Type Coupe tips the scales at 3,477 pounds (1,577 kg), but the F-Type R Coupe weighs in at 3,671 pounds (1,665 kg), which surprisingly isn’t all that much more than (just 133 pounds/60 kg) the 560-horsepower 911 Turbo S.

On the road or track, you definitely get out of the F-Type what you put into it. In normal daily driving, there’s really nothing to hate about this coupe. The tiny rear window makes for an awful blind spot and the sporty suspension can be a little harsh on weathered roadways, but you’ll forget all that when you step hard on the throttle. The F-Type R Coupe is an absolute rocket off the line, and switching the toggle into Dynamic mode kicks up the excitement an extra notch by tightening up the steering and engaging the active exhaust system. As for the seating position, the driver and passenger sit low and just in front of the rear wheels for a spectacular driving experience.

The last reason anyone will ever buy a Jaguar F-Type is for its fuel economy, but this is one area where the Jag gives up some ground to the Corvette and 911. On paper, the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe has EPA-rated fuel economy estimates of 16 mpg (14.7 l/100km) in the city and 23 mpg (10.2 l/100km) on the highway.

Over the course of my week with the F-Type, there were streaks where I could get close to those numbers if I was exhibiting extreme restraint, but with an exhaust note like that, it was a chore to get the car out of third gear around town. As such, my fuel economy was in the gutter with an average of barely 14 mpg (16.8 l/100km) in mostly city driving. Rather than any kind of knock against the car, that just goes to show home much fun I had.

As sexy and fast as the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is, it’s hard to see any reasons to doubt this car as a thorough 911-killer… that is, until you get inside. Not to say that there is anything inherently wrong with the F-Type’s cabin, but there are just small quirks. My biggest beef with the interior is some of the touch points that don’t look or feel up to snuff on a $100,000 sports car.

This includes the cheesy interior bits like the faux anodized orange tint on the plastic shift paddles, the rubber HVAC dials and toggle switches that were seemingly pulled from a Chevrolet Silverado and Jaguar Land Rover’s small, outdated infotainment screen. Even the power-retracting center HVAC vents, which while impressive at first, seem to be there unnecessarily, adding nothing to the cabin’s styling.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of reasons to love the F-Type on the inside. For one, the performance seats in this this R-branded F-Type are incredible thrones that not only look great but also provide lots of comfort thanks to 14-way power adjustability. In normal driving, the seats can be adjusted so they are perfectly comfortable for long highway cruises, but when you end up finding the twisties, the side bolsters can be sucked in enough to give excellent lateral support. If the bolsters don’t do the trick for the passenger, there is a massive grab handle built into the center stack. Another cool feature about the F-Type is the backlit starter button that glows red and pulses like a heartbeat when you first sit in the car.

In terms of cabin space, there’s a decent amount of room for taller passengers, but you’re not going to find many places to store things in this two-seater. Hampering things is the fact that the F-Type Coupe still has a similar bulkhead as the Convertible in between and behind the seats. On top of that, the trunk space is limited to just 11 cubic feet (311 liters) and the center console and glove box are tiny.

With a 340-hp V-6 under the hood, the 2015 F-Type Coupe is priced at a reasonable $65,000 (€65,000 in Europe), which is exactly $10,000 more than a C7 Corvette Stingray but almost $20,000 less than a basic Porsche 911 (with more power as well). Stepping up to the raucous F-Type R Coupe, the base MSRP jumps to $99,000 (or €106,800 in Germany), and the as-tested price for this particular car was $102,825. At this price, the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe costs about as much as a Porsche 911 Carrera S but with the power output close to that of the 911 Turbo S! Considering the amount of style, performance and all-around fun the F-Type Coupe R brings to a crowded segment of high-performance coupes, that price makes the F-Type even more attractive.

After disasters like the X-Type and S-Type, Jaguar definitely seems to have found its way once again, and the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is a loud statement that the automaker is back. While the F-Type might not have the same pedigree of, say, the Chevrolet Corvette or Porsche 911, the F-Type Coupe is proof that Jaguar still has what it takes to build a world-class sports car. And considering how well Jaguar has done with the F-Type up to this point, the automaker’s future under Tata is definitely promising moving forward.

Forty years from now, there’s no doubt that E-Type will still be the most beautiful Jaguar ever made, but the F-Type is also sure to be a desirable classic. For now, though, this two-seater is the best performance car Jaguar has had in its lineup and a good rival for two of the most iconic sports cars on the planet: the 911 and Corvette. When it comes to these two competitors, the F-Type is more refined than a Corvette and more menacing than a 911. Just two years into its build cycle, that’s a great place for the F-Type to be.