Cars / Cars and Bikes

Car Pride: Jaguar F-Type British Design Edition

Tweaks abound, inside and out, to remind the world that the F-Type might be the coolest sports car built in Great Britain.

Jan 11, 2016 | By AFP Relaxnews

The Jaguar F-Type is one of our favorite vehicles, largely because it succeeded one of the most iconic cars ever made, the Jaguar E-Type. The automaker thinks the car is starved of attention for its “Britishness” so it has gone with a heavy dose of patriotism here. Jaguar is hoping to highlight that its F-Type is the ultimate sports car currently being built in the UK with a special British Design Edition.

With unique interior and exterior features, the new model, announced last week, will be available in both coupé and convertible form and will come with a supercharged 3-liter V6 engine all-wheel drive as standard.

As for its other accentuated aesthetics, Jaguar has looked to its heritage and to the British flag for inspiration – the car can be ordered in red; white; or a new, specially developed Ultra Blue.

However, for those that don’t want to fly the flag, and aware that the car will be sold globally, Jaguar will also offer the car in black. It is our understanding that British racing green is not in the picture.

“The F-Type is a sports car that excites the senses, with a visual drama that is both individual and very British. Creating the British Design Edition gave us the opportunity to subtly enhance the way the F-Type looks – inside and out,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

From the outside, the new model distinguishes itself from other F-Types with a gloss black front splitter, body-colored side sill extensions and an integrated rear diffuser or Venturi as Jaguar calls it.

There’s also the option of a fixed spoiler for even more downforce on the coupé, but both versions get seriously upgraded brakes with bright red calipers that should show up behind the unique 20-inch satin grey Cyclone alloy wheels. Although they’re slowing down an ultra-light aluminum-bodied car, it’s still one that can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in around five seconds and on to a top speed of 171mph (275km/h).

Inside, satin finish carbon fiber trim abounds and the sports seats are wrapped in the company’s best Jet leather. This can be specified with a choice of three different contrasting stitch colors – red, white or blue.

For those that like to stay as connected to the web as to the road ahead, the car gets an InControl Touch Infotainment system complete with smartphone and now Apple Watch app remote control for certain functions tied into a 10-speaker, 380W Meridian sound system as standard, but this can be upgraded to a 770W 12-speaker InControl Touch Plus unit.


 
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