There’s a lot to like about Jaguar’s F-Type Coupe, but one thing it is not is a Porsche 911 basher.
The reason I stress this point right from the outset is that some motoring journalists have declared the leaping cat coupé the dynamic superior of Zuffenhausen’s enduring rear-engined sportster.
The fact is, it isn't, because a 911 Carrera would eat the F-Type V6S across a challenging back road or racetrack. But do you really care? Unless you're a track-day regular, you probably wouldn't.
The Porsche is safe in its standing as the most accomplished handling sportscar you can get for under Dh400,000, but this doesn’t in any way diminish the appeal of the F-Type Coupe. It’s so achingly beautiful that you’d feel you had got your money’s worth just parking the two-door in your driveway and gazing at it from your porch or living-room window.
The hard-topped Jag launched last year, following closely in the wheeltracks of its roadster sibling, and – apart from its fixed-roof configuration – the other key point of difference is that it’s pitched as a harder, more focused offering than its convertible counterpart.
Jaguar execs may well refer to the F-Type Coupe as a 911 rival, but in terms of its real-world driving characteristics, it reminds me more of other front-engined offerings such as the Aston Martin Vantage and Maserati GranTurismo. It’s a much sharper handler than the Maserati, but I believe it’s probably close to lineball with the Aston as far as outright dynamic capabilities go.
The example I’ve just taken delivery of is the F-Type V6S, which scores an uprated version of the 3.0-litre supercharged motor that propels the entry-level F-Type V6. While the base model has respectable outputs of 335bhp and 450Nm, the “S” variant ups the ante to 375bhp and 460Nm.
According to Jag’s figures, this adds up to a 0-100kph sprint of 4.9sec and top speed of 275kph, so it’s not exactly a slouch. Out in the real world, the F-Type V6S feels brisk, but not neck-snappingly fast – at least until you get a decent dose of revs on board. The fact that the peak torque quota of 460Nm doesn’t make an appearance until 3,500rpm means you’ve got to give the V6 a bit of pressure to get the best of it.
The eight-speed auto serves up super-smooth shifts, and it’s reasonably quick and intuitive, although not quite a match for the seamless PDK dual-clutch sequential gearbox you’d find in a Porsche 911.
You can leave the auto to its own devices, in which case it goes about its business remarkably unobtrusively, or you can take charge of shifting yourself via the tactile flappy paddles nestled behind the steering wheel spokes. That said, there is an occasional delay between you pulling on the downshift paddle and the transmission actually responding.
Start upping the pace across a twisty stretch of road and you’ll find the F-Type Coupe darts into corners with surprising eagerness. It’s definitely pointier than its soft-top stablemate, and there’s also more outright grip and chassis tautness than the drop-top.
However, Porsche’s 911 sticks to the tarmac with even greater resolve, and its braking and traction out of corners is in an altogether higher league.
But you can still make very quick and enjoyable progress in the F-Type V6S, with its crisp steering and rasping V6 (especially with the exhaust flaps open in Dynamic mode) adding to the size of the grin you’ll be wearing at this point. The fact that the coupé’s chassis and bodywork are fabricated from aluminium means it tips the scales at a relatively trim 1,594kg, and this is reflected by the Jag’s nimbleness and willingness to change direction without you sensing a big shift in inertia from behind the wheel.
The F-Type Coupe’s inherent sportiness is reflected by the cabin, which I find elegant and functional in its simplicity. You’re faced by large speedo and tacho dials nestled deep within the instrument binnacle, and the rest of the knobs and switchgear are simply and thoughtfully laid out.
The only negative is that there are a few more hard plastic surfaces than you might expect in a car that costs Dh330,000.
Overall, Jaguar has struck a good balance with the F-Type V6S Coupe. It dishes up enough pace and driver involvement to keep even enthusiastic punters entertained, and the competitive price point means it could potentially lure away buyers who might otherwise have opted for a Porsche 911 or premium Merc/BMW/Audi coupe.
But the real clincher for me is the beautifully executed styling of the F-Type Coupe, which draws cues from the iconic 1960s E-Type, yet manages not to come across as a retro pastiche.
I have to admit going slightly weak at the knees and uttering a stream of gibberish when I first laid eyes on it. I think that says it all, really.
