Believe it or not, Jaguar hasn’t launched a true sports car in 52 years, the last was the 1961 E-Type. So it makes sense that the British brand is making a bit of a big deal about the 2014 F-Type.
The latest bit of F-Type fanfare is a 13-some minute long video starring Damian Lewis and Shannyn Sossamon. Titled “Desire,” the Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise) production follows the two stars in a V8-powered action vignette (watch it below).
We recently spent a few days in the hills outside Pamplona, Spain driving the F-Type and the first thing we can tell you is: Yes, the F-Type does snarl and snort exactly as it does in the film.
While Lewis and Sossamon’s drive was a bit more perilous and a tad dustier and than ours, it captures the excitement of the vehicle quite well.
The 2014 F-Type – no matter the engine, be it the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 – is a calm, collected sports car for the playboy in us all. It’s capable of a comfortable cruise or a corner-hugging, kidney-jostling sprint.
Our favorite bit of the F-Type, aside from the engine and dual-mode exhaust, was the eight-speed automatic transmission, which only receives a brief mention in the film. So many motoring fans accuse automakers of belying the sports car with automatics.
We agree that connectivity drops slightly when the physical shifting is left to a computer or solenoid but the speed and smoothness with which the Jag eight-speed shifts easily outweighs any connectivity concerns.
The F-Type is currently on sale in British Jaguar showrooms and will be available in showrooms Stateside in short order.
While we can’t promise that you’ll have quite as scenic an adventure a seen in Desire – or such a beautiful co-pilot – we urge you to go check the F-Type out.
Placed snugly between the Porsche Cayenne and the 911, the F-Type provides something neither cars can: distinction. And that’s half the fun of a sports car anyway.
Photo credit: Nick Jaynes
