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All the latest breaking news on the automaker Jaguar. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Jaguar.

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace SVR

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace SVR

    Catapult for the Road.

    Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has taken their spanners to the all-important and top-selling Jaguar F-Pace. Looking through the model options on the F-Pace, it would seem that the V6 S we tested back in May 2018 has now gone, replaced by this all-new SVR model. 

    On paper alone, it doesn’t sound like much progress has been made from replacing the 375PS supercharged V6 with a 550PS supercharged V8. You might be thinking “hold on Stuart…” because these figures alone are impressive. I’ll grant you that they are. What it lays down on the road doesn’t exactly look like much in terms of the 0-60 second sprint. Just 1 second is knocked off the S models 5.1 second time.

    Where the fun lies is in the top speed that you’ll never achieve on the public road of 176mph and the massive increase in torque delivery you will get when you put your foot down. Now you have 680Nm from 2,500 – 5,500rpm. We don’t need to consider the old model anymore.

    Development

    It feels like SVO has done some work on the iQ-Al (D7a) modular platform that is shared with the enjoyable XE saloon. And that work feels a little more than a mild tweak and a tap with a hammer. Finally, the F-Pace has the handling that enables it to keep up with its greater power outputs. It can still plough on but this time you can encourage the rear end to catch up far quicker than before. There is no doubting that the extra grunt in useable lowdown torque helps to attribute to this vastly and enjoyable improvement.

    What this also means is it can all get a bit messy and a lot of fun. It makes for a big car that feels less nervous. Even on moist roads, the traction is all there and exploitable. Now we have a car that gets a bit twitchy on the rear when confronted with coming out of fast roundabouts if you so wish for it to do so.

    And all of this happens before, and by accidentally, that you select S on the gear stick. I’ll be a little unprofessional here and say I did scream and cry at the same time as it shot down the road like a stone from a catapult. What felt like a fast vehicle suddenly became even faster with more response from throttle inputs and manual inputs with gear changes.   

    Legally you can’t use this outrageous amount of power all the time. There comes a time where you need to be civil to other road users. Sometimes that means shutting off the snarling exhaust sound system controlled by a system of flaps and baffles.

    On a normal kind of drive or commute, the F-Pace SVR is a gentle giant. Its interior on this press model, were rather cosseting and the though the seats didn’t visually lend themselves to look comfortable, did a good job.

    Attention To Details

    Inside the F-Pace, there is an absence of race materials. Instead, Jaguar has opted for leather and soft-touch materials where it is needed. It’s fit and finish are OK though they would struggle to match those from BMW and Mercedes and its looks are a little dated now.

    And this is a shame because this is Jaguar and it’s a premium brand of car. But it fails in a few areas of neglect that niggle a bit if you go looking for them. The glovebox, for instance, has some unrefined sharp edges around it and then we get to my visual dislike in a Jaguar interior. Namely in the ambient illuminations set in the doors. Personally I’ve never liked blue lighting. It’s a harsh light so add this to the black and red leather interior and you do wonder who at Jaguar is in charge of making this decision. Other interior colours are available in black with cream or tobacco or all black.   

    And this is the main problem for the F-Pace. It’s 4 years old in 2020 and dated inside because of this. Thankfully for £210, you can tick a box that gives you a choice of 10 colours. Keep it white as standard and you wouldn’t need this.

    All this extra doesn’t come cheap and that’s before you’ve added your own essentials. You’ll regret not adding such items like the ‘driver assistance pack’ at £3100 so you can kiss the reasonable list price of £75,335 goodbye. Add the options that we have here and it tips the scales at over £83k.

    Can I justify this to you? If motoring is on a budget then no, this F-Pace is not for you but you might find what you want lower down the range. That said, if a fast SUV vehicle with a kick is what you want, you’d find a lot of the competition out there quite lacklustre. There aren’t that many as accomplished and as outrageous as this and that’s why I’m rather taken by it. 

    Love

    Sound

    Civilised driving

    Can be an unruly brute 

    Loathe

    Blue ambient lighting

    Expensive options that you need 

    Interior design showing its age 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jaguar F-Pace SVR 

    Price – £83,625 (as tested)

    MPG – 22.1mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 550PS @ 6,000 – 6,500rpm

    0-62mph –  4.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  176 mph

    Co2 – 272 (g/km)

    All pictures: Stuart M Bird (C)

  • The Gay UK Motoring Honours List 2020

    The Gay UK Motoring Honours List 2020

    2019 was a busy year for us at THEGAYUK motoring section and I’d like to thank all the manufacturers and PRs who helped make it possible. We could not do this without their continued support. 

    It was easy to pick my joker card for the car I’d have if I had the funds this year. It will comes as a surprise but I’ll explain why later. The number 2 position proved far more difficult for me to select. There were many cars to choose from with a few manufacturers making it more difficult because they had more than 1 in the firing line. You couldn’t see the carpet in the library for all the pictures.  In the end I settled it over a vodka based cocktail and a blast of Mel and Kim F.L.M.

    So let’s start with The Gay UK’s New Years Honours list.

    3 Citroen Berlingo £24,925

    It had to happen and I’m sure you all expected this so don’t start rolling your eyes at me for this. Simply put, there isn’t a vehicle out there that can match the Berlingo for space and comfort for 5 or 7 with the extra length model at this price.

    That space also has added visibility to swallowing huge loads and the low boot lip is a boon over an equivalent SUV. There is a compromise with the Berlingo and that comes from its van origins. You can’t escape these and it shows in the handling. Not that you’d think this was a problem judging by how fast you see the van piloted around. 

    Add it all together and it makes for a satisfying long distance cruiser that can also become everything you can think it could and it will. 

    2 Lexus LC500 £87,885

    This was the tricky one and in the end, I wanted to feel a million dollars without actually having to fork out a million. 

    V8 5 litre petrol power, growling exhaust, the ability to cruise in comfort and its looks are what those on the outside will see. Those fortunate to see inside will be well placed in a cockpit meticulously put together by Lexus Takumi masters.  

    A large small volume coupe is a difficult car to make and manufacturers have to go all out like Audi and new comers Polestar and they then also charge you a fortune for it. 

    Here the Lexus LC500 manages it so well and despite it costing almost £88,000, it is great value without the cost cutting compromise. It would be so easy for Lexus to fit switchgear from its parent company and it hasn’t.

    The extra cost option that comes with the Lexus as standard is that people will let you out in traffic. You can’t put a price on that.

    1 Suzuki Jimny £19,149

    The Suzuki caused a bit of a riot and ruined my otherwise planned honours list. Arriving as it did at the end of 2019, I didn’t expect to be sitting here, just after I’d written awful things about its flaws saying that it’s my number 1 choice for 2020. But there we go, nowt queer as a gay motoring journalist!

    And why? Its possesses human qualities that make the Jimny almost become anthropomorphic. You can’t help but melt at its cute looks and this makes you talk to it. You are never alone in a journey in a Jimny.   

    It never lied either at what it was and with that, it never pretended to be anything other than an honest little workhorse that would give you all it can and then some to get you were you needed to go.

    It’s the classic Grant Mitchell look. Heavily flawed with good intentions but cover him in the right clothes and he’s a winner.   

    If It Was My Money

    My must have is the Jaguar F Pace SVR. It only had one competitor with us this year and that was from Alfa Romeo. While the Stelvio Quadrifoglio was a mighty beast to drive, it was on the go all the time. And when it wasn’t, the cockpit quality let it down. This made the F Pace SVR all the better. To use both cars gung-ho powers all the time isn’t possible. About 80% of your time would be just normal driving and it’s that 20% of wild fun that gets over thrown by a cockpit and luxury feel that won the day. 

    And let’s not think the F Pace SVR is all about looks. What it lacked over the Stelvio in power prowess, it more than made up for it with being an absolute scream to drive at its limit and then beyond when the screaming gets louder. 

    Stuart

    xx 

  • Drawing Cars | Jaguar allowed US to draw one of its cars

    Drawing Cars | Jaguar allowed US to draw one of its cars

    Jaguar UK invited THEGAYUK to the Design Museum in Kensington for an exclusive “interactive exploration of designing an electric car” before opening it to the public. 

    In essence it was popping into Kensington and having a nosey around the new Jaguar i-Pace in both metal and clay forms. It also gave us a chance to interact with the design teams involved. 

    Sam Day Photo

    Before the jollies commenced with the sweat and anguish of picking up a pencil and drawing a Jaguar, I got to look close up around the clay models. I’ve only ever seen them in books and often wondered if they clay was set. The answer is no. It pretty much stay soft for most of its life. And this gave me an opportunity to have a go with the sculpturing tools. If you do see an i-Pace with a gouge in the near side rear door, that will be my work and you can thank me when you see me.   

    Directors of designer, Alister Whelan (interiors) and Dominic Najafi (exteriors) were on hand giving out advice as we all sat down to draw an i-Pace. It’s safe to say that the last time I sat down to draw in a school like setting was during my GCSE art and that too was the last time I also picked up a pencil to sketch.

    Apparently it’s not in the wrist but the arm. Alister and Dominic were able to tell who didn’t heed their advice and drew from the wrist. I tried. It’s harder than you’d think.

    Add some shade, depth in details, swoop here, swish there and you have an i-Pace. Or in my case, a Toyota Prius. 

    We were then asked to draw a car close to us like a first car or a dream car. I chose a Seat Terra. It’s a van based on the Seat Terra and apart from the wheels, it lacks curves so I should be OK.

    Sam Day Photo

    It just so happened that it wasn’t that bad. We all had to put our scribblings up on a wall and have Alister and Dominic comment and see if they could identify the car. For my effort and the only van drawn, they scored me an 8 out of 10. They guessed it as some sort of Fiat derived product and I can’t really split hairs. It pretty much was. 

    Sadly I wasn’t able to stay for the interaction with the panel on discussions on how new technologies, sustainable materials and changing customer desires are impacting the future of car design. Judging by the press pack that arrived after the event, it was well attended. 

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Type Flying the Flag of a 70 year Tradition

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Type Flying the Flag of a 70 year Tradition

    Jaguar has a rich a varied history when it comes to sports cars and this year, they are celebrating 70 years of their sporting cars with the launch late in 2018 of the F-Type Chequered Flag editions, there are 3 engines 300PS 4 cylinder, 340PS V6 and the 380PS V6 that comes with RWD or AWD transmissions. All set-ups are covered in either the coupe or convertible body variants.

    All models come with a host of extras over the standard R-Dynamic that they are based on. 3 colours available, Caldera red, Fuji white or Carpathian grey metallic.  

    Ian Callum, Director of Design said: In creating the Chequered Flag, we’ve focused on details which enhance F-Type’s presence and the promise of performance and in doing so, made a fitting celebration of 70 years of beautiful, fast, Jaguar sports cars.

    Highlights include a luxurious Windsor Leather interior featuring sports seats with embossed headrests, a dark brushed aluminium centre console trim finisher and in recognition of Jaguar’s motorsport successes, a steering wheel with discrete Chequered Flag logo and red leather band to mark the 12 o’clock position. Coupe models also come with a black contrasting roof.

    Driving styles, it has to be said that the lower powered of the 3, to me at least, is the better to drive. For what it lacks in grunt measured in torque at 44Ib.ft less than the 339Ib.ft of the more powerful V6 with all-wheel drive, it makes for a more responsive car when it comes to the handling. 

    On the limit, the AWD V6 weighing 125 kg more, feels the more heavy, especially at the front. The front, where you want grip and feedback from the steering. The AWD model has a tendency to plough on with some understeer if you behave stupidly or apply the power at the wrong time. There is a fine balancing act to it. It’s rewarding when you get it right. The grip of the AWD system making for quick exits out of the corners. And the growl from the V6 is intoxicating.

    The 4 cylinder RWD model, lighter and less powerful, is more fun to throw around. You can have some fun playing with weight bias more towards the rear on this car. It doesn’t require much thought when putting the power down but it will still bite if you overindulge your skills.

    I’ve said it again and I’ll say it now, out of the 2 bodies, the convertible wins for me. In this Chequered Flag edition, it is now a bargain £5,000 more. Not so long ago it was £10k. 

    So the big question is, is the Chequered Flag edition worth the extra £6k more than the equivalent R-Dynamic models? It’s all in the little details that add up and any special edition comes with an extra premium price. It’s just that, yes, I do like it, I just wish it shouted about it a bit louder like the rally model.

    Now THAT does shout out! 

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 300PS 4 cylinder

    Price – From £62,335 (Coupe) £67,185 (Convertible)

    MPG – 31 mpg – (combined)

    Power – 300PS

    0-62mph – 5.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  155 mph

    Co2 – (g/km) 179

    Car –  Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 340PS V6

    Price – From £66,615 (Coupe) £71,465 (Convertible)

    MPG – 28.3 (combined)

    Power – 340PS 

    0-62mph – 5.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  161 mph

    Co2 – 224 (g/km)

    Car –  Jaguar F-Type Chequered Flag edition. Coupe or Convertible 380PS V6

    Price – From £72,715 (Coupe) £77,565 (Convertible)

    MPG – 26.6 mpg(combined)

    Power – 380PS 

    0-62mph – 4.8 seconds

    Top Speed –  171 mph

    Co2 – (g/km) 223

  • What’s it like to drive the Jaguar F Type Rally Racer

    What’s it like to drive the Jaguar F Type Rally Racer

    Along with Jaguar’s new F-Type ‘Chequered Flag’ limited edition run, Jaguar has also been busy turning 2 of their F-Types into rally cars and THEGAYUK were fortunate enough to be invited to have a play with the road going cars and trying this special build rally car.

    (C) JAGUAR UK

    The F-Type isn’t really a suitable rally car, and why have Jaguar done this? 

    Firstly it’s all about putting some fun into the celebration of 70 years of sports cars at Jaguar that all started in 1948 with the XK120. The XK120 spawned a number of victorious wins and being an open-top racer, it answers the second question. And that is, why the hell not! It’s a nice homage to the open top winners. 

    (C) JAGUAR UK

    So what has been done to the road going sportster to make it a rally car? A number of things had been changed or altered and all in accordance with FIA approval. Instead of the usual 19” alloys, 16” rims with a more rugged 205/55 16 gravel tyre are fitted. 2” suspension lift with 60N/mm Eibach springs and three-way adjustable competition dampers.

    Usual things have been added like a 5mm aluminium belly pan, hydraulic handbrake and the removal of luxury items. No side windows, no roof, no fancy door trims. Instead, the inside it plain, basic and filled with an FIA approved roll cage and full 6 point harness. Weight wise, the removal of such items has been matched by the race-spec items added so it’s pretty much the same as a road going car.  

    (C) JAGUAR UK

    So what is it like to drive?

    As you can imagine, it’s an open car so you are very much at one with your surroundings in as much as mud gets kicked around and that mud gets you and the interior. There is most certainly no need to wear your Sunday best for this Jaguar. Just climbing in leaves you covered in mud.

    Engine and transmission are the same 300PS at 5500rpm delivering 295Ib.ft of torque from 1500rpm 2 litre Ingenium power unit mated to the standard automatic gearbox. The only difference is the final drive has been adjusted for a better 0-60 time and putting down the power to the limited slip differential at the back. You never get to top speed, but top speed isn’t what this F-Type is about. 

    No, indeed it is not. It is about swinging it around the dirt and going sideways. Thankfully we were not driving solo. Instead, we had 2 rally experts with us. Finland’s 9 times winning rally driver, Minna Sillankorva as co-pilot, offering advice (she taught me the perfect handbrake turn) and the UK’s own Jade Paveley in the pits.

    This was the first rallying I have ever tried and to be honest, it isn’t as easy at it looks. I also wasn’t going hell for leather but instead, as Jaguar had said, I had fun in celebrating this 70th year with Jaguar. 

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XE R-Sport, 2019

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XE R-Sport, 2019

    ★★★★| Jaguar XE R-Sport

    Small Cat with BIG claws

    Jaguar XE R-Sport, 2019 reviewed
    (C) STUART M BIRD

    What Have We Got?

    Here we enter the world of Jaguar with their smallest and cheapest offering. Prices start from £34,315 or £37,065 for the R-Sport model that we have for reviewing this week. On paper and showroom appeal, it all looks good, but does the reasonably low price detract from what is in essence, a premium car? In other words, have corners been cut? 

    Driving

    I am astounded by the XE. The petrol powered 250PS Ingenium is evenly matched to the 8 speed automatic. Throttle response is mildly lagging for a brief moment but that’s only because its throttle is set for snap-happy inputs. Default at low legal speeds around 20-45mph seems to be to drop it into second and sling-shot you down the road. 

    It works but can be a bit tiring. That said, it’s the R-Sport model so it does exactly what it says in the badging.

    The other thing the XE does is handle with a surprising amount of composure. Having a near 50:50 split weight distribution contributes to the sure-footedness of the chassis and its handling characteristics. Double wishbone front and multi-link rear keep everything in check. It’s a wonder why they fit adaptive dampers to it when that setting does have a tendency to ruin the near perfect ride. 

    The only downside is the traction control system thwarts good fun progress. You have to be really stupid to unstick it when switched off, even in the wet. 

     

    Inside

    (C) STUART M BIRD

    The downside to its size is rear seat accommodation is on the tight side, more so for height. Legroom is reasonably good though.

    Choices for interior ambience allow for colour changes within the dashboard and doors and it all goes to make for a pleasant cabin. 

    Some of the plastic quality lacks tactility but feels hard wearing and sturdy. The important bits that you need to touch do have a nice fit, finish and feel to them.

     

    Living With It

    (C) STUART M BIRD

    It’s easy to live with. The handling alone makes this an absolute riot to drive should you wish too. 

    All the controls are the usual Jaguar mix from across the ranges with a reassuring clunky feel and if you like a mix of buttons and touch screen controls, this interior is for you.

    One thing is apparent, you notice it at night at night time. There is no boot light! 

    The Verdict

    There is a lot to like about the XE and l fear people walk past it to buy the German equivalents. From where I am sitting today, I pity those people. There is no scrimping in the XE’s refinement and its handling is beautifully poised.

    I’ve come away with a regret, a personal regret for dismissing the smaller Jaguar myself. That’s my own fault and I can highly recommend them. Make me happy and pop it on your shopping list. You will not be disappointed. 

    Love

    Handling

    Agility

    Price

    Loathe

    Below average rear seat accommodation

    Overly sensitive traction control

    No boot light

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jaguar XE R-Sport 2.0 250PS auto

    Price – £ 46,000 (as tested with options)

    MPG – 39.8 mpg (combined)

    Power – 260ps 

    0-62mph –  6.2 seconds

    Top Speed –  155 mph

    Co2 – 165 (g/km)

  • COMMENT | These were cars we really wanted to drive growing up

    COMMENT | These were cars we really wanted to drive growing up

    There was a time not so long ago when models within a model range varied according to affluence. There was also a bit of what the decade dictated in there too. If you are as old as me, we are not talking that long ago either. Less than 50 years in fact. 

    Ok so 50 years is perhaps a lifetime away for some of our readers but long ago in the motoring world far far away from where gloss and add-ons were essential in demonstrating your wheeled wealth, there were motoring gems to be had. From poverty to racing and somewhere in-between specs, it all added up and made the Jones’s at 69 twitch the lacy nets in either disgust or envy.

    Sadly these days you can’t tell the difference between a poverty or a luxury model from the visual aesthetics. Alloy wheels and glitz are pretty much the same available across the ranges. And chrome and elaborate badges seem passé these days. So l am going to take you back to 5 decades of motoring and pick out one of my favourites that were stand out models within a range of specific models and you didn’t need a Rolls Royce to show off your motoring wealth either.

    1970 

    Mk2 Escort Ghia

    The Ford Escort was a top seller in the UK. The Mk2 had form and looks. Its model range catered for every walking person in the world. It was available for not a lot of money to quite a huge sum. It was a car you could aspire to. And that’s why I am choosing the Mk2 Escort Ghia. 

    The Escort range had circular headlights on its lowest and sportiest models. Not so on the Ghia. It had square lights and silver edging around the grill. And if that wasn’t enough it also had added brightwork to cause sparkling glare through the nets of the neighbours. Not only was there side mouldings and a vinyl roof but sports wheels with chrome beauty rings. Best of all was the metallic paint that was at one time only available for the Ghia model. It also had splashings of wood trim and an internally adjustable door mirror. This was stuff that wowed the crowds and made lesser men cry. All of this was then given the kiss of a Ghia badge. 

    1980

    Austin Rover Maestro Vanden Plas 

    Be it the humble Metro, the great white whale that was the Maestro or the Sierra nibbling Montego, Austin Rover added the ‘Vanden Plas’ moniker to these 3 models. However, the Maestro is my worthy winner. It was like nothing else on the market. For a start, it had wood where others were going for plastic and it was given a chrome grill and embellished wheel trims. Little VP decals on the rear wings along with a coach line, all complimenting the chosen metallic paint choice were subtle in showing off your wealth over a lesser HL or Mayfair model. 

    It got even better inside too. Along with the wood trim, there was shoulder to shoulder leather-covered seats. Then to drive your senses crazy, you were presented with a digital dashboard that could give out over 30 voice commands usually at will and for reasons, only the car knew, for seat belt, petrol and anything else you could think off wanting a car to tell you in 1982.

    Remember this was also the year of Knight Rider and the talking car. This was seriously cool. All the fun the Maestro had to offer was narrated by New Zealander Nicolette McKenzie.

    1990

    Jaguar Sovereign (XJ40 model)

    Somewhere in between the base Jaguar XJ-6 and top of the range, Daimler sat the very British named Sovereign. It stood out from the lesser model sister due to more brightwork and alloy wheels. And then there were the headlights. Rectangular units instead of the two separate lights of the lesser model. The added bonus of these lights was that the Daimler also had them. To distinguish itself from the higher model it still kept with the Jaguar grill instead of the convoluted trim of the Daimler.

    Inside it was treated to standard features like air conditioning and leather everywhere. 

    Ford took control of Jaguar and following a facelift, the kings of giving took away the visual impact of the affluent range and all models then looked the same    

    2000

    Ford Focus Ghia saloon

    The millennium decade gets difficult. Cars all pretty much looked alike. One car does stand out to me from the crowd and ironically, it was from where we started, back at Ford. The Ford Focus. Not just any Focus for it has to be the saloon purely because the shape looked better than the dumpy fat arse hatchback. The fact you could also get a Ghia in estate form showed that times had changed and affluent luxury was now available even for the universal man who had loads to carry.

    Focus Ghia had the usual items that we had now come to expect like the chrome on the front bumper and a dollop of wood in the centre of the facia. By now that wood was beginning to look more like the wood was harvested from a Lego land forest of plastic. That said it wasn’t the worst faux wood you could get. The French were even worse at it. There was also an option for leather seats but sadly the alloy wheels were no longer exclusive to this model. The lesser LX could often be seen parading around in them like some irksome oik in knocked off £700 Manolo Blahnik cum fuck-me heels. 

    And beyond…

    It’s hard to tell where or how it will go. From the list above you can see that the top of the class at this was the British. For some reason, we Brits liked an add-on which probably accounts for the sheer amount of money we spend on our cars after purchase. We are good at adding a touch of luxury to a car and probably why the British are good at modifying them. That is if you don’t look at Barry Boys on the internet.

    http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/portal.php

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar E-Pace 250ps Petrol HSE R-Dynamic

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar E-Pace 250ps Petrol HSE R-Dynamic

    ★★★☆☆Jaguar E-Pace 250ps Petrol HSE R-Dynamic

    Cat with Soft Bite

    What Have We Got?

    Jaguar has taken the small luxury SUV market head-on with their new E-Pace. Launched last year to much spectacle in London, where on its debut it entered the Guinness World Records with a 15.3-meter, 270-degree barrel roll even before its launch. A year later and with cars available, The Gay UK finally gets to taste the 250 petrol HSE R-Dynamic model.

    Driving

    One thing you become aware of pretty quickly is that the F-Pace can cover ground quickly. That 250PS 2 litre engine spins happily through its rev range while taking with it its 365 max of torque from 1200 to 4500 rpm through its 4WD automatic drive train. Once on the move that is. For the sporty model in the range, there was a noticeable delay when you pushed the throttle into the carpet. It might be seconds but those are vital seconds.

    With power and speed, comes great responsibility and one thing you want is to rapidly decrease speed. My biggest gripe was the brakes. The ABS did a great job and there was no evidence of lockup, even for a moment. That said, they lacked the bite you’d expect for a sporty model.   

    Inside

    The interior options for the E-Pace R-Dynamic are few and far between with 3 choices of leather colour. The press cars grey exterior with red leather worked well. And the options fitted to the car covered most bases particularly the heated seats and steering wheel.

    Door architecture worked well and the illuminations around were welcomed in breaking up huge expanse with lights, leather and brushed aluminium. It all added to the premium feel that you expect from Jaguar

    What didn’t work for me was the main piece of plastic that forms the facia. Its saving grace was that it was of smooth plastic. It lacks a lot of tactility and felt cheap in an otherwise expensive cabin. 

    Living With It

    It’s an easy car to live with and I found ‘comfort’ mode was best suited to most of my driving needs. There is space for all inside despite its dinky size and it’s reasonably comfortable. Long drives result in a refreshed arrival. There is plenty to play with on-route. 

    Pushing it hard caused the engine to roar in an unnecessary kind of way and it’s not really something you want to try too often.  

    Hurried driving also caused the tyre to vocalise their abundance of grip to all around you. I shouldn’t encourage this but I rather liked it. 

    The Verdict

    There is a lot to recommend about the E-Pace. The finish is good and there are some nice options like the £310 ‘activity key’ wristband. It’s a great first effort into this segment for Jaguar, it just needs to be a little bit better.

     

    Loves

    Door architecture

    Ability to cruise quietly

    Convinces available in the options. (Though some are expensive)

     

    Loathe

    Brakes lack bite

    Throttle response

    facia trim

     

    The Lowdown

    Car – Jaguar E-Pace 250ps Petrol HSE R-Dynamic

    Price – £50,995 (as tested)

    MPG – 36.7mpg (combined)

    Power – 250ps @ 5500rpm

    0-62mph –  6.6 seconds

    Top Speed –  143 mph

    Co2 – 174 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD

    ★★★★☆ | Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD – Big and Easy

    Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD review

    What Have We Got?

    There is a lot to like about the F-Pace S. For a start it is a car of creature comforts and quite honestly meets Jaguars ethos of Space, Grace and Pace. In that I mean it’s got space for five and a boot to accommodate luggage. Grace to carry you effortlessly along from A to B and Pace because when and where you can, it’ll hurtle itself down the road with a phenomenal howl from the superchargers.

    Driving

    Back to the howling. It’s very noticeable and I like that. A shove on the go pedal and the 380 horse of the 2999cc Ingenium will drop down several gears of the 8-speed auto gearbox and slingshot you down the road.

    If this isn’t what you need then you’ll be surprised to discover that you can potter it along like a Honda Jazz on pension collection day. There are novices for this amount of power.

    Ride and handling are also pleasant. The ride is more on the jiggly side and then even more so in Dynamic mode. It’s not however intrusive even with its 22” wheels and thin band Pirelli Zero rubber.

    Climb Inside

    Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD review

    Here lays my problem. The inside is a mixture of hits and misses. My main gripe is the dashboard layout. While some will like familiarity within their cars from the same brand, I for one do not. If I am to pay out more for a car that sits up the range then I want it to reflect that and be different. The dashboard is identical with that of its saloon sibling the XF.

    This then includes the blue dashboard lighting. This again causes me some issues. The doors and dashboard have neon lighting set within them and on the S they were red. Thankfully someone at Jaguar has designed software that allows you to change the colours. Red with the blue wasn’t easy on my eyes. The white or blue seemed to work better.

    What did work well for me was the driving position and visibility. It was incredibly easy to see out of and this helps with navigating you and the behemoth Jaguar. The SUV style body allowing for even easier parking thanks in part to its cut of the tail.

    Living With It

    Quality wise it isn’t up to the likes of Mercedes or Audi. That said they seem to be stepping down at times with their products so I won’t be losing any sleep over that. The tactility of the inside is ok. Door armrests lack some padding for bony prominences.

    With a combined mpg of 31.7, you’ll also be able to stretch your legs more often than in a Nissan Micra. I say that because you won’t get that. You’ll be having too much fun driving it. At most during my week, I saw 16 – 18 mpg and the tank was empty in 248 miles.

    Is It Any Good?

    I liked the F-Pace. There are few SUV’s that I rave about because it’s a genre that I personally find stunted. They are high sided vehicles with altered dynamics and this results in fussy handling. The F-Pace S seems to have stopped me in my tracks on this.

    The F-Pace is also incredibly easy to drive and for something so powerful, it’s nice to be able to relax if going hell-for-leather isn’t what you want after a day of mind-numbing meetings.

    Now if only I could get more than 248 miles from a tank of fuel I’d be extra smitten with it alas fun comes at a price. A high price too but you can’t take it with you.

    Love

    Engine noise

    Choice of ambient lighting 

    Easy to drive

    Loathe

    Trim tactility

    Expensive options

    You need the options

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD

    Price – £71,505 (as tested)

    MPG – 31.7 mpg (combined)

    Power – 0-62mph – 5.1 seconds

    Top Speed –  155 mph

    Co2 – 209 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake

    CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake

    ★★★★☆ | Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake

    Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake review
    Is the Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake any good?

    In the summer THEGAYUK went to the unveiling of the new XF Sportbrake set in a Wimbledon style setting. Much was to be made of the new Jaguar XF with added room.

    Sadly on the day, the cars were all kept locked so I was only able to look at the outside. It’s easy to say “yes it looks ok” when you haven’t got up close and personal. Thankfully two bridges have been crossed because THEGAYUK has enjoyed time with the XF saloon and now the Sportbrake.

    Running wise the two cars were identical in having the 2-litre petrol turbo Ingenium engine making 250 horses. Oddly the official performance figures are somewhat chalk and cheese for both cars. The Sportbrake will do the 0-60 dash 0.5 seconds slower but will achieve 3 mph more.

    Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake boot size

    These figures aside, it is the overall package that I was looking briefly at on a Jaguar play day. Now having been able to play with both I can say that I actually prefer the looks of the Sportbrake. There is often a little bit of style lost and extra length added to a saloon when it becomes an estate. However, Jaguar has been clever in keeping the 2 cars on the same platform equating to both being the same length of 4954mm.

    As expected, around 70kg of extra weight has been added to a car capable of carrying extra cargo. This being made up of the hefty tailgate and extra metal required to retain rigidity around the opening. A small price to pay and yet for a car with an aluminium construction, it is anything but light with a kerb weight of 2260kg.

    Load area with the seats up gains an extra 25 litres too. Increasing to a maximum of 1700 litres with the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats down.

    What can become problematic for the estate style body is humming from the wheels reverberating around the cabin because the boot area is left fully exposed to the cabin. As you’d expect in the refinement of the Jaguar, there is no such noise. Being as the car glides effortlessly with little fuss, any noise would be amplified. I’m glad to say it wasn’t.

    What is quite disconcerting is the sheer amount of openness you get when inside. Look over your shoulder and it does feel like the cabin goes on for miles. It’s big and yet no more than the saloon.

    Here though is the big question. Is there room for another estate on the market when the rise of the SUV doesn’t seem to be stopping? It’s a tricky one to answer. As it is, Jaguar has 2 SUV’s in their range and those 2 are evenly matched by their Range Rover counterparts.

    It will have buyers. Not everyone wants an SUV. For one thing, an SUV, no matter whose badge it wears, lacks visual prestige a saloon or in this case, an estate can offer. And with the handling credentials of the saloon being evenly matched to this Sportbrake l can’t see anyone who opts for the XF being remotely upset in having a car that sits lower down. In terms of style, the estate offerings of the XF really do make Jaguars slogan of Grace, Pace and Space come true.

    The Lowdown
    Car – Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake
    Price – (from) £42,435
    MPG – 41.5 mpg (combined)
    Power – 0-62mph – 6.7 seconds
    Top Speed – 150 mph
    Co2 – 155 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD

    ★★★★★  | Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD

    Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD review
    Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD

    The Black Cat of the Family

    Jaguar booked out the E-Pace we had set for review and so came up with another XF-R Sport for us to try here at THEGAYUK. I was keen to see if my original views on the petrol version would be mirrored into this diesel model.

    I wasn’t particularly kind about the last Jaguar XF R-sport we had on test. I said the handling was a bit safe. Indeed it was. Having tried another example I can honestly say that I more than enjoyed the XF-R Sport. This is how it should be done. 

    For reasons, I cannot explain this other than the diesel engine makes light work of progress through the 8-speed automatic gearbox. And a good job too because it only has a rev range of 750rpm where maximum torque is made. a massive 500 Nm between 1750-2500 rpm. Compared to the petrol engines 269 Nm around 1200-4500 you can see where the magic happens and how quickly it does it. 

    I’m not a fan of the diesel engine. That has now changed to ‘I am a fan of the diesel engine’ and despite the current uncertainty surrounding the black pump at the forecourt, you need to still consider it. For a start in the combined miles to the gallon, the diesel will do another 11 over the petrol.

    Back to the impressive torque of the engine, it is suited to the XF R-Sport script. It lacks overall power compared to the petrol but by the time the petrol version has caught up you are well away to a claimed top speed of 153. That’s 6 more than the petrol. Other than that, performance is identical.

    They say it is anyway on paper. In practice, it really isn’t. And this is where the already awarded four star XF gains an additional star. It’s not a 5-star car yet compared to the last one I have to award it another star simply for being so much more fun to drive. 

    Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD review
    Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD Interior

    The low down grunt still doesn’t kick you in the back. It’s still progressive but those 8 cogs in the gearbox keep up and allow for some sporty driving that you associate with Jaguar saloons. It was so much better to drive. Even the steering felt more connected and I know for a fact that there is no difference between the set up of this car to the other. It’s all down to the engine and how it propels you down the road. Very well I might add.

    Another plus though I don’t often comment on is the colour combination. The red with chocolate leather worked better than the last offerings of black on black with more black and white inserts. What I still don’t like and the brown leather only made it all the worse was the blue cabin lights. I do not like them. Interior lighting is so important inside a car. By day you hardly notice it, come night it can make or break a car.

    Last time I also moaned about the clumsy cruise control settings. This model was also fitted with adaptive cruise, it’s a £1460 option and in my book, it should be standard on every car fitted with cruise control. It could be that the adaptive cruise made setting it easier because it was so simple to use and set. 

    One thing, well a couple of things are apparent in the diesel version over the petrol. The firstly is the noise of the engine in the cabin. It’s just a little too vocal. I’d like my Jaguar to be somewhat more suppressed to engine noise. From cold it is quiet and once warm quieter still yet it’s muted clatter is still there. What is absent is the vibration on start-up from the auto stop-start. You could always detect it in the petrol model. 

    Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD review
    Jaguar XF R-Sport Estate

    There isn’t much more to be said about the XF R-Sport other than this one was £700 cheaper yet it didn’t have the 360-degree camera package. Add that and it would be priced almost matching the petrol model. It’s an option I liked having. Anyway, you need to test the diesel if you are considering the petrol model. Two cars, identical in all but the engine and my word what a difference it is. You may just find yourself, like me totally in awe of the black fuel.

    Love

    Engine flexibility
    Economy
    Handling

    Loathe

    Blue interior lighting
    Trim tactility
    Engine noise

    The Lowdown

    Car –Jaguar XF R-Sport 240ps AWD

    Price – £58,175 (as tested)

    MPG – 51.4 mpg (combined)

    Power – 0-62mph – 6.2 seconds

    Top Speed   153 mph

    Co2 – 144 (g/km)