The Jaguar F-Type has always been a left-field choice alongside thoroughbred sports cars like the Porsche 911. What it lacked in outright precision it more than made up for in deep-chested character. In addition, Jaguar has also announced the F-Type Chequered Flag special edition. Production isn鈥檛 limited by numbers, but instead cars will be built to order for the duration of the model year. We鈥檙e now driving said special for the first time, in rear-wheel drive P380 Coupe guise. The Chequered Flag badge has been applied to both the 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 models to celebrate 70 years of Jaguar sports cars. The lineage started in 1948 with the legendary XK120 and stretches seven decades through D-Type, E-Type and XK150, as well as the seventies XJ-S and nineties XK8. All F-Type Chequered Flag models feature 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake callipers and an SVO-spec body kit with bespoke badging.
Together, it鈥檚 enough to give even the entry-level Ingenium models a whiff of flagship V8 style. At 拢72,715, our car commands a premium of 拢5,760 over the equivalent P380 R-Dynamic model, which seems a little steep given the standard car鈥檚 generous kit list. There are just three paint colours to choose from, but if you rate the styling tweaks and extra exclusivity, it鈥檚 worth a look. Inside there鈥檚 special Windsor leather, contrast stitching and black suede headlining, as well as a red 12 o鈥檆lock marker on the steering wheel. There鈥檚 some dark aluminium trim on the dash, but otherwise is standard F-Type fare. That鈥檚 no bad thing. Even six years since it launched, the Jag Coupe feels well built inside. The infotainment system is a little laggy - and still lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity - but the way the cabin cocoons around you ensures you鈥檙e rarely distracted from the task in hand.
And the F-Type remains a car of unparalleled character - at least in V6 trim. The engine is raucous, and while it can鈥檛 match the almost anti-social V8 for noise, the constant underlying burble feels perfectly judged; fizzing away at idle and gargling purposefully around town. Find a piece of open road however and the engine comes alive, screaming to the redline with a soundtrack like no other. A new (or old, for that matter) 911 is sharper to drive; the steering better judged and the chassis more compliant. But that doesn鈥檛 mean the F-Type feels aged or misjudged. It鈥檚 still a fantastic all-rounder, with an excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox and acceptable motorway refinement. We tried our rear-wheel-drive Coupe back-to-back with an all-wheel-drive Convertible, and the difference was night and day. The AWD system makes the F-Type a fantastic all-weather car; where the drop-top gripped with unflappable traction, its fixed-roof sibling displayed a keen propensity to step out with all the driver aids disabled.
Combined with significantly greater rigidity. Aerodynamic optimisation -- including a wider, variably extending rear spoiler -- enabled the new 911 Carrera's lift to be reduced yet further while retaining a very good Cd value. To complement the modern exterior design, the Porsche designers created an interior, the architecture of which takes its cue from the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver is now even more closely integrated with the cockpit thanks to the centre console rising up to the front with the high-mounted shift lever or gear selector located especially close to the steering wheel in typical motorsport fashion. Setting the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S raise the performance and efficiency bar yet another notch. All versions get by with significantly less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (28 mpg imp.). Fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16 per cent lower compared with its predecessor.
Among other things, this is achieved by systems and functions such as auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world's first seven-speed manual transmission and -- in conjunction with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) -- sailing as it is called. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers not only Porsche's typical precision and feedback but also helps to increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption. 6 mpg imp.) less than its predecessor. Also, at 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark. 11 kW) more power. That equates to CO2 emissions of 205 g/km. At the same time there are performance improvements in both models. 62 mph) in 4.3 seconds. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono package cuts that to 4.1 seconds. Michael Mauer, Head, Porsche Design Department - Mauer is responsible for the design and styling of automotive and industrial products. He studied design from 1982 to 1986 at the Polytechnic in Pforzheim, and from there secured his first job in the Design area of Mercedes-Benz AG in Sindelfingen.