This was the most powerful version of Jaguar’s new sports car, the Jaguar F-Type R. Although this title now belongs to the F-Type SVR, the Special Vehicle Operation's version owes much to its predecessor.
The top-spec V8 sits alongside its supercharged V6 and 2.0-litre Ingenium siblings, although none of the range should be described as underpowered. The entry-level i4 petrol pumps out 295bhp, while the base V6 has 335bhp available, rising to 375bhp in the V6 S and ending with an impressive 542bhp in V8 form. Jaguar's SVO division felt this wasn't enough for their take on the big cat sports car and duly upped the power to 567bhp.
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.