by Shin Takei
2014 Jaguar F-Type
After a long absence, Jaguar has finally offered the F-Type, a successor to the legendary sports car E-Type. When model debuted in 1961, the E-Type caused a sensation and quickly became an icon of the sixties. With sleek looks, high performance and competitive pricing, it was the sports car everyone dreamed of owning.
However, emission control requirements, fuel consumption, and financial problems resulting in bad morale and declining quality sent the E-Type to its demise. The last E-Type (in Series III guise) was offered in 1974. There have been many rumors about a new prototype but they were all just that – until now. With a gap of 40 years, it is no easy task to build a sports car that is a worthy successor to the legendary E-Type. Now with parent company TATA, Jaguar finally has solid financial backing to develop a modern sports car that can compete with the other manufacturer’s current offering. The new sports car had to be a hit right from the start. It needed to not only be competitive in performance, but also have a great look and price. Jaguar not only hit a home run but produced a sensational sports car that was done right from the start.
The three new models are all are two door convertibles with front engine rear-wheel-drive with 8-speed paddle shift automatic transmission. To enhance fuel economy, an Intelligent Stop Start system stops the engine during idle and starts when the gas pedal is pressed.
Technical Breakdown:
The F-Type features a 340 hp V-6 supercharged engine with 332 ft-lb torque at 3,500-5,000 rpm, a 161 mph top speed, Sport Exhaust with center mounted dual exhaust pipes, open differential, and 18″ wheels. EPA combined estimate is 23. Acceleration of 0-60 mph is 5.1 seconds.
The F-Type S in addition to the above features a 380 hp V-6 supercharged engine with 339 lb-ft torque at 3,000-5000 rpm, a 171 mph top speed, limited slip differential, sport suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, Dynamic Mode and Active Sport Exhaust with center mounted dual exhaust pipes, and 19″ wheels. EPA combined estimate is 22. Acceleration of 0-60 mph is 4.8.
The F-Type V8 S features a 495 hp supercharged V-8 engine with 460 ft-lb torque at 2,500-5,500 rpm, a 186 mph top speed, Active Sport Exhaust with outboard mounted quad exhaust pipes, Jaguar Super Performance Braking System, Electronic Active Differential, and 20″ wheels. EPA combined estimate is 18. Acceleration of 0-60 mph is 4.2 seconds.
