Regardless of the quality of the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe, the car and the people behind it deserve some sort of automotive award for the simple fact that it includes a manual transmission.
In fact, I would argue that it exists simply to have an automatic transmission. That seems like it’s the cars primary selling point — beyond its mere existence as an elite British heritage sports car. There are multiple F-Type trims that come with a sport-tuned automatic. They’re all great cars. They all are more powerful and faster than the manual version.
But, they don’t have that clutch and that stick on the floor — and even the fastest car with an automatic and paddle shifters can’t match the sensation of popping a clutch or grabbing a gear.
New for the upcoming model year, the manual F-Type coupe offers a supercharged V6, 380 horsepower engine. The smaller engine works best with the manual transmission for the average driver. Modern V8s simply put down too much power and build up too much speed too quickly for the basic DMV-certified owner to manage safely and consistently.
Related: 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe R at COTA
Suffice to say, a manual gearbox mated to the maced out V8 present in the higher trim F-Type R would leave a lot of drivers with more money than driving skill fishtailing their way across intersections.
As with other F-Type models, different trims offer different suspension offering. While all trims offer the all-important sport mode button ti ramp up handling and acceleration for track performance, the manual F-Type offers the choice of a base model with a standard bring setting. The S models are equipped with stiffer, more sport tuned springs, and the R models come standard with Adaptive Dynamics suspension.
For the ultimate driver’s car experience, buyers should opt for the S model mated to the manual gearbox.
I drove the top of the line F-Type R at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin last year and came away ecstatic with the car’s exquisite balance and on-demand power. The F-Type was clearly a direct and worthy rival of the Porsche 911 – with the Jag posting a clear styling edge on the German entry.
Obviously, the V6 manual doesn’t have the outright power of the V8 F-Type R, and — at $77,000 — it’s less of a track day car. But, the supercharged V6 It’s for straight road work, and a long trek through three states was enough to confirm its status as an elite aspirational sports car entry.
Jaguar also deserves special kudos for squeezing quality exhaust notes out of its V6. The automaker’s performance cars have a reputation for sounding spectacular — a racing heritage mix of growl and backfire at just the right times. Losing a couple of cylinders can sometimes leave V6’s soft-spoken. That’s not a problem here.
While the true performance car enthusiasts with enough bank will no doubt reach for the V8 F-Type, the lower price level on the V6 blends with the purely sensual driving sensation of a manual transmission to make it an appealing new, very “aesthetic” option in the high end import sport class. It’s a beautiful car — and a beauty to drive.
