Jaguar F Type 3.0 litre Supercharged V6

When the E Type Jaguar or XKE, was introduced in 1961 it was an absolute sensation,there was simply nothing else like it anywhere.

Sleek lines and a 4.2 litre engine that took it to 240kmh (153 mph) made it the "must have" car for anyone wanting to make a performance and styling statement. While it was better in a straight line than in corners, that didn't deter seventy thousand buyers, over its model run, from experiencing its panache. 
For many it was and still is, one of the most beautiful cars ever built.
I almost bought a pristine, red Series 1 back in 1977.
It was on sale for just $6,000 dollars, but my budget was about $1,500 less than that. ( $1,500 was a lot of money back then.)
Being tall I didn't quite fit in the cockpit, the steering wheel brushed my legs and the top of the windscreen was a bit too low. In one of life's great regrets,I didn't buy it, choosing instead a 1971 Mk II Triumph 2.5 PI saloon that I could better afford. Hindsight is great isn't it?
Jaguar had always meant to bring the dream car of the 1960s into the modern era and the XK8 of the late 1990s was close to that ideal, but for purists, not quite the E Type replacement.

Finally, after more than 50 years, Jaguar has a worthy successor to the legendary XKE... the F Type. 
The F Type's styling cues pay homage to the svelte E Type.The long bonnet, short bootlid and sculpted flanks set it apart from anything else.
It too,is a beautiful car.

Despite being a two seater, it's very wide, plenty of room to stretch out.
There are a several variants starting at around119K. 
This is the mid range 3.0 litre supercharged V6 and what a magnificent engine it is. 
280 kw and  460 nm. 
The F Type has a few tricks up its sleeve.
Dynamic mode changes the engine mapping to hold onto each gear longer, and also opens up the exhaust. 

But if you just want the sound without the fury of the extra revs, a tiny button opens the baffles in the exhaust, producing a glorious crackling snarl that has to be heard to be believed.  
I tried it out in the tunnel through the Adelaide hills using manual mode on the eight speed gearbox. 
Now, I am normally a fairly unemotional bloke, but  I laughed myself silly at the sensational howling soundtrack out the back. 
Each gear change produced an instant loud, barking crackle from the twin pipes as the  car rocketed forward like there was no tomorrow.   
(Think Golf GTi or Golf R, with DSG transmission only ten times louder!)  
Overrun elicited a further cacophony of pops and crackles as the sound bounced and ricocheted off the tunnel walls. 
Others in the tunnel must have wondered where all the noise was coming from.
It is absolutely intoxicating! 
Wow Jaguar.....You have nailed it.
No V6 I have ever driven sounded as good as this.
The sound doesn't however come cheaply. It's a $4,900 factory option.
If that maniacal, mechanical melody isn't enough to make you happy, there's a standard Meridian 10 speaker 380 watt digital audio system.
Or you could shell out an eye watering $8,440 extra for the "Technology"pack.
That includes a 770 watt 12 speaker sound system. 
In the confines of the two seat cabin, you'll never want for anything louder or with more clarity. 
There are standard rear parking sensors, but you'll have to shell out an extra $1,725 for a reversing camera in the "Parking Pack." The $1,400 "Climate pack " gives you heated seats and steering wheel.(Sounds a bit rich however, when the 36K Kia Optima Platinum for example, has heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard.) I am willing to forgive Jaguar here, as the F Type's sheer driving exhilaration and enjoyment overtakes such minor issues.  

Jaguar has tuned the suspension to give superb ride comfort, better than some prestige sedans, but not at the expense of brilliant handling. The F Type devours tight corners with arrogant ease, thanks to that brilliant gearbox and precise steering. A real adrenaline rush.
Flicking the steering wheel mounted gearshift paddles made light work of selecting the right ratio for each corner.
Zero to 100 is dispatched in under 5 seconds.
The brakes are huge, front and rear... very effective stoppers.

The test car was fitted with 20 inch wheels shod with fat 295/30 ZR rear tyres and 255/35 ZR 20s up front.  
 Like the old E Type, the F type's bonnet is hinged at the front. It's supported by two gas struts.
The car has a twin safety devices that raise the rear of the bonnet to give more distance between it and the top of the engine block, in case of a collision with a pedestrian.

The soft top lowers in just twelve seconds and about the same to erect. Soundproofing with the top up is very good, but you'll still hear the exhaust's music nevertheless. 
Headroom, top up, easily accommodated my 183 centimetre (6'2") height, with room to spare.

The boot is tiny however, especially with the spare wheel in place. Without it, there's just enough space for soft luggage. Jaguar offers fitted luggage for the F Type as an option.
A rear spoiler activates at speeds over 100 kmh, and it can be lowered and raised manually at any time below that speed.

The tail lights are a single stripe of colour, matching the daytime running light strip up front.
The small door handles are flush with the bodywork, and each contains a puddle light.When locking the car, a simple push on the handles retracts them and  locks the doors.
 You can also change the colour of the interior ambient lighting in the doors and on the console from red through to blue. 

The seats are very comfy, although oddly, fore and aft movement is manually operated, but seat height and backrest rake are done electronically, using Mercedes- like switches in the outline of seats on the doors.   

At 171K, (about 180K on road,) I think the F Type V6 S is worth every penny, (for those who can afford it) and I'm certain it will become as much a classic as its E Type forebear.
If you must have the V8 version, it will set you back just over 201K. 
For my money, the supercharged V6 is more than adequate for sound, feel, dynamics and performance.
If you're in the market for something very special...you'll be hooked after the first corner, and the moment that unique exhaust crackle, pummels your senses.
But be prepared to laugh as much as I did. 
It's one exciting machine.
Peter Sellen