Landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport proved to be a breeze. As an Atlanta native, 85-degree Georgia weather in October reminded me what I gave up when I moved to New York.
However, what sweetened the pot even more was the knowledge that I would have this beauty in my driveway for the next couple of days.
The car's stunning good looks are going to make fans of classic Jaguar design very happy.
No one has disagreed with me — this is one of the most attractive cars they have seen.
Everywhere I took the F-Type, an adoring crowd quickly assembled. People wanted to know where I got it and how much it cost — and how they could get one.
Why does the F-Type look so good? Well, much of it has to do with Jaguar's ability to successfully blend new with old. Its styling is modern overall, but it also incorporates many of its design cues from iconic Jags of the past.
The F-Type's front end is highlighted by a classy yet aggressive front grille-and-headlight combo. The prominent front grille is an homage to the E-Type ...
... Although the E-Type's grille was smaller and much more rounded.
The massive hood is front-hinged — in true Jaguar fashion — but is made of a single piece of lightweight aluminum.
The Jag's sloping rear hatch ...
... long hood, and overall side profile are reminiscent of not only ...
... but also the curvy D-Type ...
... and the understated C-Type from the 1940s.
Jaguar's design team even updated the E-Type's slender rear hatch.
The F-Type's hatch offers a bit more rear visibility for the driver.
The F-Type's narrow rear lights are updated renderings of the E-Type's taillights.
V8-powered F-Types get these angry quad exhausts ...
... but the V6 edition gets twin central exhausts.
All in all, Jaguar design boss Sir Ian Callum did a spectacular job. In case you were wondering, he hasn't been knighted yet. But trust me, he will be.
Power for the F-Type R comes from a 5-liter, 550-horsepower supercharged V8. A less-powerful version of this engine can also be found in the Range Rover Sport, a totally different car but one I also loved.
These optional carbon ceramic brakes are designed to bring the Jag to a stop in a hurry.
The F-Type's bi-xenon headlights can adjust to the driver's surroundings: brighter on dark roads, when going through tunnels, and so on. The "Jaguar" name is even engraved on the headlight.
The Coupe's interior is classy and surprisingly comfortable for a sports car. The infotainment system is very easy to use, with intuitive controls.
The interiors of sports cars can feel cramped, but a large glass roof panel gives this compact coupe a fantastic sense of airiness.
From above, the roof and hatch together give an impression of a seamless piece of glass.
The F-Type Coupe looks great — and drives great. The well-tuned chassis and smooth-shifting, 8-speed transmission handle the manic horsepower of the V8 with the poise and precision of John Elway in fourth quarter of a playoff game.
Even with the weight of the hulking V8 hanging over the front wheels, the Coupe powered into corners like Herschel Walker across a goal line. However, the less-powerful 380-horsepower V6 version may be even better around the twisty bits.
Even with a sport suspension and high-performance tires, the F-Type's ride remained supple and comfortable.
The best part about driving the Jag was the sound. With the "active exhaust" feature turned on — using a button on the center console — the F-Type sounds like a raging, drunken Viking tearing through a seaside village. With the active exhaust off, the F-Type is a proper English gentleman out for a walk in the countryside.
In the marketplace, the $100,000 F-Type R Coupe occupies a unique position.
Competitors, like the Porsche 911 Turbo, accelerate quicker and have higher top speeds — but also have less power, cost $50,000 more, and don't offer the same soulful experience as the F-Type.
The Maserati GranTurismo looks fantastic and sounds like a beast. However, it has less power and slower acceleration than the Jag, and it costs $25,000 more.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is equally pretty, with a great soundtrack from the engine. It even retains some of the design DNA from Callum's DB7. But it, too, falls short of the Jag on substance. A $15,000 price premium also doesn't help its cause.
When I drive a car, I look for its strengths as well as its faults. But with the F-Type Coupe R, I really couldn't find any faults. Has Jaguar built the perfect car? For me, it's as close to perfect as it gets.
You can also get F-Type horsepower in a go-anywhere SUV ...
