The Jaguar F-TYPE R: What Makes The 'R' So Special?

by Adam Lynton / Comments

That one little letter makes a world of difference.

The Jaguar F-TYPE is arguably the finest looking sports car on sale today. In fact, the only car that could threaten the Leaping Cat's crown is the Maserati Alfieri, a car that may never see production. It comes with a range of powertrains and in both coupe and convertible guise, but it's the F-TYPE R that attracts those with the most refined of tastes. We spent a week with the V6-powered convertible, and were more than satisfied with 380 horsepower sent to the rear wheels.

But here's why you should opt for the R. For one, you get more power. A lot more power. A 5.0-liter supercharged V8 delivers 550 horsepower and one of the sweetest soundtracks money can buy. There's an 'R' themed leather interior, an active sports exhaust system, torque vectoring, and a stunning set of 20-inch Gyrodyne alloy wheels.

In our latest unboxing video, we check out all these features and more, discovering what makes that 'R' so special. Special thanks to Jaguar Sacramento for allowing us to shoot the car.