Jaguar F-Type SVR 2017 review

With no mechanical changes, there’s nothing new to the driving experience. Unlike the lairy all-wheel drive F-Type R, the all-paw SVR finds impressive traction despite having a potentially scary 567bhp and 516Ib ft of torque. Even pinning the throttle out of a low-speed hairpin fails to upset its balance.

Don’t think that makes it boring, though: even with the electronic assists still on, you can feel the tail edging wide before the SVR is reined back in again. Interventions are well judged and subtle, helping you carry serious speed around a track. You might trouble the electronic stability control (ESC) a little less if it wasn’t for a throttle response that’s a little too sharp for these feet.

But despite giant carbon-ceramic brake rotors (£8570 extra, with forged 20in wheels) that are able slow the SVR with ease, the track isn’t the best place for it. Even with everything set to Dynamic mode, you still get a sense of the car’s mass as you fling it into bends. Its hefty kerbweight means an enthusiastically driven track day would be rather expensive, too.

No, it’s on the road where the SVR feels most at home. There, you can appreciate the feedback filtering up from the front wheels as you precisely place the nose of the car and enjoy the more supple suspension settings. While there may be a little too much body roll for the track, Sport mode for the suspension treads a fine line between body control and comfort. Yes, it’s firm, but never enough make you wince.

We also suspect the outrageously loud and theatrical exhaust might break more than a few track day noise limits. With no such trouble on the road, we’d recommend finding the nearest tunnel, switching the exhaust to loud and enjoying the NASCAR-esque noise until your ears bleed.

Inside, the new seats are easy to get comfortable in, but could have a little more bolster support for smaller individuals. The improved interior trim is also welcome, but still some way behind the material richness of German rivals. Likewise, the infotainment is sharper and more responsive but iDrive and other rotary dial-controlled systems remain easier to navigate on the move than this touchscreen. 

There’s no doubt that the SVR is by far the most capable F-Type variant. Despite having not far off 600bhp, it’s far more usable in the UK than the F-Type R in less-than-perfect conditions, which if you hadn't noticed, we enjoy quite a lot. 

However, with a price that starts at £110,000 before you’ve even considered options, the competition gets very serious and very specialised. While we can certainly see the thuggish charms of the SVR, it would take a dedicated Jaguar fan to pick one over a Posche 911 Turbo, Audi R8 or McLaren 540C. Ultimately, if an F-Type is an itch you want to scratch, we still see the sweetest point in the range being among the lesser models.