
The New Jaguar F-Type R Is The Antidote To The Lock-Down Blues
The convertible cat hits its stride in Portugal’s wine country.
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We can think of no better antidote to having the lock-down blues, than this: a speedy, freeing escape into the countryside in a convertible. A warm breeze suffuses the cabin, and the smell of flowers hangs in the air. That wonderful sound? That’s a 5-litre V-8 engine breaking into a raucous song.
Obviously, we’re arrowing down narrow back roads in Portugal’s wine country before the world went into a lock-down and it’s as gorgeous a location as you might hope to find. Though, in truth, any pretty place with scant traffic will do when it comes to a drop-top. The whole point is to taste the wind and revel in the freedom that comes with it.
But, you know, which convertible? Since the brand-new, next-generation Jaguar F-Type convertible is due to arrive in the next few months in dealer showrooms, we thought it a worthy place to start. Pricing is north of $200,000 for a model that’s well optioned.
David Shepherd
When it comes to sexy two-seaters, Jaguar achieved perfection of the form with its iconic 1960s-era E-Type. It was freedom incarnate. The F-Type R is a modern interpretation of that car, an emotional sheath of aluminium crafted to slice through the air.
You could get the F-Type as a coupe, but as we test the car around the winding roads of the Douro Valley, we have to ask ourselves: Why would you? We’d be denying ourselves the unadulterated sound of the 423kW engine and its delightful burble and gunshot crackle, loud enough to burst the budding grapes blanketing the Porto hillsides.
David Shepherd
Weather conditions are often turbulent. Today the roads are a bit wet, and the breeze can turn chilly. But it serves to remind us why the convertible has endured all these years. Top-down, the heavens open up overhead, and you become part of the landscape rather than simply a spectator.
David Shepherd
The F-Type has always been a sensuous machine, and the revamped face and new narrow LED headlamps keep things fresh. (So does the newly available, out-loud “Sorrento yellow” paint job. You’ll never lose your car in a parking lot again.) The F-Type R comes only in an all-wheel-drive configuration, but the rear-biased thrust is unmistakable.
On curvy roads, the front wheels add in just enough torque to pull you through tricky turns. The front end is lively; the steering inspires confidence. Credit new chassis components and tuning as well as revamped software overseeing handling characteristics like the brake-based torque vectoring system. While there’s no manual transmission available, the ZF eight-speed automatic is a happy and efficient taskmaster.
David Shepherd
The soft top drops in 12 seconds and folds elegantly into the rear. Of course, you sacrifice rear seats and a bit of trunk space. Such is the price of freedom.
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