Item: Jaguar F-Type R 2014-2019
Rating: 4.5

Giving up the Jaguar F-Type R's secret

Most staggering about the F-Type R is the simple fact that Jaguar has improved the torsional rigidity of the convertible by 80 percent. That such a large change can come from adding a fixed aluminium roof is more than impressive, with the extra metal turning the F-Type into a true monocoque structure in the process.

The extra rigidity means Jaguar engineers have been able to make the F-Type R even better to drive, granting extra dynamic ability by raising its spring rates at the front and rear. The coupé should have more control, better agility and greater steering precision than the convertible, then. And that was hardly lacking in the first place.

Size wise, the all-aluminium, front-engined, all-wheel-drive F-Type R is comparable to a BMW 3 Series. Indeed, it shares many of its components with Jaguar’s own 3 Series rival, the Jaguar XE.

Unleashing the F-Type R's supercharged 5.0-litre V8

Even sitting at its governed top speed, the V8 coupé remains flat and able to steer faithfully, with its large tailgate spoiler handling the generated lift confidently. Again with the power duly increased for the SVR - its capable of reaching the heavenly 200mph mark in coupé form but just a mere 195mph with a rag top affixed.

On the track, it was easy enough to discover and take the Jaguar F-Type R to its limits and hold it there, with the car’s excellent torque vectoring system eliminating understeer in most of the corners.

There’s a real feeling of the F-Type directing you to the right line, even if, like me, you have a tendency to hit the apex of a corner too early. If you’re not looking for a hardcore racer experience, its best to leave the R with its Dynamic stability mode turned on. That allows you to oversteer fairly shallowly while also keeping your speed up.

Of course, if you get brave you can turn off all the electronic aids, and doing so will allow you to pull off the kind of wild oversteer-induced drifts favoured by magazine photographers. It’s surprisingly easy to do, too, even at 40mph, because the F-Type feels so balanced. It’s tail pokes out willingly but can be held with the right power for what seems like minutes.

That depends on whether you decide to spend more to get this F-Type R. It costs from £90,860 with the SVR weighing in at £110,880, a considerable jump from the £49,900 for 2.0-litre base model. For all that money you would expect a decent equipment list, and thankfully you do, with the standard F-Type R coming with an AWD system, 20in alloys, an electronic active differential, LED headlights, adaptive dynamics and keyless entry and start on the outside. Inside there is a premium leather upholstery, electrically adjustable performance sports seats, a Meridian sound system and Jaguar's 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system complete with sat and smartphone integration.

Steve Cropley

Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve Cropley is the oldest of Autocar’s editorial team, or the most experienced if you want to be polite about it. He joined over 30 years ago, and has driven many cars and interviewed many people in half a century in the business.

Cropley, who regards himself as the magazine’s “long stop”, has seen many changes since Autocar was a print-only affair, but claims that in such a fast moving environment he has little appetite for looking back.

He has been surprised and delighted by the generous reception afforded the My Week In Cars podcast he makes with long suffering colleague Matt Prior, and calls it the most enjoyable part of his working week.