For some eons, the Jaguar XK was the British marque’s flagship sports car outside of the exotic XJ220 of the 90s. A posh, four-seater GT, the XK remains a classic thing that still looks fresh even by today’s standards. I have been privileged enough to drive the XK R and the even lurid swansong, the XK-RS variant over the years. And these delivered on both the comfort and performance fronts in what I can describe as a gentleman’s sports car repertoire. 

So, when the XK was put out to pasture, I felt a tad disappointed as its replacement, the F-Type, was earmarked to be a two-seat sports car to compete with all manner of rivals playing in that realm. Interestingly, when it was launched here in Mzansi in 2013, it was solely as a roadster - which was unprecedented as it's usually the tin-top first - with the Coupe variant only introduced some two years later. 

While the tact in positioning and marketing of the new F-Type was notable, it was also a chance for the Coventry, UK based manufacturer to play in the competitive sports car space of the market. I can vividly recall the launch of the F-Type Convertible in the picturesque province of Mpumalanga, where I commandeered a 5-litre, Supercharged V8 S variant through some switchbacks of the popular Panorama Route. And what comes to mind is the gun-fire like crackle of the exhaust reverberating against ancient rock. My initial mind state of trepidation, it seems, was unfounded. The F-Type Convertible was a thoroughly entertaining steer, with the looks and aural splendour to boot. 

Then in 2015, the Coupe arrived and offered another layer of driver quotient, thanks to a solid roof that bestowed the F-Type with a newfound rigidity. This gave it an even more dynamic veneer that was very palpable behind the wheel. However, the V8 was quite a hairy thing to try and tame, and required your concerted efforts to keep it on the straight and narrow when driving with gusto. In essence, it lacked the finesse of a well-engineered rear-wheel drive sports car as it constantly overwhelmed the rear axle for any meaningful purchase, even with a LSD in place. It was a handful, as a result, and some of my colleagues preferred the tamer 3-litre V6 Supercharged variant instead. I, however, cheered for the V8 because it required you to adopt a smoother driving style to extract its best and it rewarded fairly handsomely. Those who have been giddy with the controls in their driving approach have sadly binned it. 

So when an AWD version was confirmed, there was universal appeal abound and the V8 was now the firm favourite as it became less intimidating to drive, thanks to power going to all four corners. This meant it was many things to most people, meaning you could simply just jump in and grab it by the scruff of the neck from the get go. An even more powerful SVR variant came along and it too was solely available with AWD. 

Continuing on that trajectory, the recently updated F-Type is essentially the pre-facelift SVR boasting the same high-output 5-litre V8 Supercharged, but without the cosmetic frills. We will get to the oily bits and how these translate on to the road, but firstly lets wade through the superficial changes. On test here is the flagship F-Type R P575, the number suffix alluding to the engine’s output in metric horsepower.

The most obvious changes can be found in the front of the vehicle where a new, gaping airdam can be found that is now flanked by slim, matrix LED equipped, horizontal headlights that look better in the metal. A newly sculpted bonnet with airvents, darkened LED tailights and black badges, together with a new diffuser and fixed rear deck spoiler, do enough to keep the exterior of what is now a 7 year old car as fresh as can be. 

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