Coventry, England - After releasing the first picture last month, Jaguar has finally spilt the beans on its fastest F-Type ever, releasing all the juicy stuff ahead of its official debut in Geneva next month.
The new F-Type SVR is powered by a more potent version of Jaguar's 5-litre supercharged V8, credited with 423kW at 6500rpm and 700Nm from 3500rpm, for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.5 seconds and 320km/h top speed.
By comparison, the previous F-Type head honcho, the R, produces 405kW and 680Nm, takes 4.1 seconds to get to 100 and reaches 300km/h.
The engine features the same calibration upgrades as F-Type Project 7's V8 and the soundtrack is more enticing too, thanks to a lightweight titanium and Iconel exhaust system that’s tuned to deliver a "harder edge" sound.
The SVR not only gets extra power, but is also lighter, more aerodynamic and better around corners. The standard SVR is already 25kg lighter than the R, but you can get it to shed as much as 50kg if you order items like the carbon ceramic braking system, carbon fibre roof panel and carbon fibre pack.
The aero package includes a modified front bumper and splitter as well as a flattened underfloor, an active rear wing made from carbon fibre and a rear venture that reduces lift and drag. Handling is sharpened by new 2-inch alloys, stiffer rear knuckles as well as beefed up dampers and anti-roll bars.
AWD CONTROL
Thankfully, for those that like to keep their F-Type in one piece and not barrelling sideways into every second tree, the SVR is fitted with all-wheel drive, and it's a slightly modified version of the system that recently became an option on the R. Engineers also modified the electronic active diff at the back, optimising torque distribution between the front and rear and across the back axle.
SVR division boss John Edwards sums it up rather succinctly: "Our objective was to take everything that our customers love about F-Type - the performance, the handling, the sound, the design - and take it to a whole new level. This is what the new F-Type SVR delivers: it's a 320km/h all-weather supercar.
And just to make owners feel that specialness in their surroundings, the cabin has been jazzed up with some unique furnishings, including 'SVR Performance' seats in Jet Black leather and with Lozenge Quilt patterning (red and Siena Tan seats are also available).
The SVR is heading to South Africa in Coupe form in August and Jaguar has given us an indicative price of R2 134 100 - that is of course subject to change, as it's rather impossible to predict what our exchange rate is going to do between now and then.