Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Ah, film cars. James Bond made Aston Martin famous, Charlie Croker did the same with Mini Cooper and Austin Powers did it with Jaguar. After spending a day cruising around in the new F-Type, all I can say is … groovy baby, yeah!
In the Austin Powers movies, the fictitious British spy’s cars are dubbed lady-pullers and portrayed by a 1961 Jaguar E-Type and a 2001 XK8 convertible, with a Union Jack paint scheme.
The state-of-the-art model I drove is billed as a successor to the legendary E-Type and although it didn’t feature a Great British flag, it certainly offered up a great British drive (even if the company is owned by Indian Tata Motors).
One of my favourite design features is the door handles which pop out when you hit the unlock button on the key fob… a feature worthy of an international spy.
The convertible roof raises and lowers smoothly and quickly in 12 seconds, giving passers-by just enough time to catch a glimpse of you as they wonder how you ended up with such a cool car.
The interior has a two-seater set-up with the leather interior and control buttons finished in aluminium. There is a touch-screen display in the centre console which works the infotainment which includes Bluetooth, sat nav, radio, CD and MP3 connectivity.
Since the weather has been mild recently, I had the top down all day and made the most of it. The added bonus was that with the roof down, the sound of the throaty roar of the engine is even more prominent.
Even at speed, this super car is almost faultlessly smooth and, as a result, it’s easy to forget how fast you’re going until you glance at the electronic speedometer.
This beautiful jag comes in a range of engine variants. There’s the entry level 3.0-litre V6, the F-Type S, with the same engine tuned for 375bhp and lastly, the V8 S, with a 5.0-litre, 488bhp supercharged petrol engine.
With all of that horsepower at my disposal it would have been easy to feel out of control if not for the sturdy and responsive steering. Also, because the car sits low to the ground, so does its centre of gravity, which gives you a reassuring feeling as you take a tight corner.
Unsurprisingly, there is a sport mode, which means the steering became stiffer and the throttle response became sharper which delivered a more aggressive drive.
Surprisingly, there is also a snow mode … a factory standard so I’m told. However, it might come in handy because it’ll be a cold day in hell before I can afford a ride like this.
The F-Type S and V8 S models feature active exhaust systems with electronically-controlled bypass valves. The valves open under specific throttle and vehicle-speed conditions, improving flow and delivering a deep exhaust note which was music to my ears.
I only have one complaint. At a modest 5ft 11in, I found the cockpit a little snug and since the chair doesn’t have much space to go back, I wouldn’t recommend this model for anyone taller than me. Aside from that, it’s phenomenal.
This car combines seductive design with cutting-edge technology and performance, which is truly breathtaking. Quite simply, the F stands for fantastic!
Prices start from BD34,000.
For details, call Euro Motors on 17750750.
