Driving a Jaguar F-Type Convertible on the Gavia Pass | Special
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Where is the Gavia Pass
Located at 2,618 meters above sea level, it is an Alpine pass of the Ortles-Cevedale group that connects the Val Gardena and the upper Val Camonica, marking the border between the provinces of Brescia and Sondrio.| ); }How is the Jaguar F-Type Convertible
As mentioned at the beginning, Jaguar F-Type is a two-seater sports car that we already had the opportunity to try, in the P450 engine and coupé configuration, a few months ago. We will therefore not dwell again on the aesthetic aspect, accessories and on-board equipment as there are no differences in this regard. What you need to know is that this model, regardless of whether it is a cabriolet or coupé variant, manages to combine the elegant and refined soul typical of an English car with a spirited and sporty personality.For our test, Jaguar supplied us with a model equipped with Pirelli P Zero tires of 255/35 (front) and 295/30 (rear) 20 ″ radius with bodywork in the splendid Eiger Gray color. The price of this specimen, almost “stock”, is just under 121 thousand euros.
How it behaves
Despite the dimensions and masses involved, typical of a touring convertible and long distances, Jaguar has also managed to create a solution with a sporty soul. Traveling along the roads of Alta Valtellina, we were able to test the F-Type both in touring mode and with a sporting profile, appreciating the excellent work done by the British engineers from Blackpool. | ); }Federicovecchio.com In classic mode, the delivery of the powerful 5.0 V8 is linear but still capable of giving great emotions; with the active sport profile, on the other hand, the driving dynamics appear sharper, the engine more nervous and ready, with a suspension scheme more aimed at clear and precise trajectories. The brakes convey safety in all situations, despite the F-Type P450's over 1,800 kg weight. The AWD-type traction (RWD is also available in the price list), is a valuable aid and allows you to splash out of curves in total safety. The gearbox is precise and in any driving mode, between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm, it will not be uncommon to hear real pops in release. Here, in this context, we feel like giving a big applause to Jaguar which has managed to recreate an extremely engaging exhaust from all points of view; with the valves open you will be inebriated by the splendid melody of the English V8.
Despite the cubic size of the engine and the weight of the F-Type, fuel consumption at a relaxed pace is very respectable; on the motorway and on the freeway we managed to exceed 10 km / l, an extremely surprising value. If, on the other hand, you have a heavy foot and find yourself on a mountain pass, we have bad news for you; it will not be difficult to reach 2 km / l. In any case, the 70-liter tank ensures good autonomy and the full tank of petrol in Livigno, where we took these splendid photos, has allowed us to save a few tens of euros.
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What is it like to travel by convertible
The test on the Gavia Pass and, in general, in Alta Valtellina, has allowed us to fully test all the qualities of F -Type and in particular driving with the hood down. Even at high speeds, the onboard experience is pleasant with limited hiss and little turbulence. The hood can be operated up to 50 km / h and takes a few seconds to open, or close, completely. The air conditioning and heated seats allow for use at 360 degrees and even at the top of the Stelvio Pass, with a temperature of 6 degrees, we did not particularly suffer from the cold.The hood does not subtract space from the luggage compartment, so even with the roof closed, all the 200 liters reserved in the rear area will be available.
Superbollo
The F-Type P450 is part of the territory of the superbollo and therefore maintenance in Italy is quite expensive: between the stamp and the superbollo the amount to be paid is just under 3,000 euros. A choice that could make you turn up your nose, but unfortunately inevitable. The P450 engine is not the most powerful but not the most docile either; F-Type is in fact available in the following versions:P300, 2.0 turbocharged L4 petrol, 300 horsepower P380, 3.0 supercharged V6 petrol, 380 horsepower P450, 5.0 supercharged V8 petrol, 450 horsepower P575, 5.0 supercharged V8 petrol, 575 horsepower
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Conclusions
Jaguar F-Type Convertible is a two-seater with a clear sporty setting. Its line, inspired by that of the E-Type ancestor of the 1960s, manages to combine impeccable English class with the grit one would expect from a car equipped with a mammoth 5-liter V8. While dynamically we are not perplexed, there are some aspects related more to habitability that could be improved.Considering the rather important dimensions of the F-Type, we are surprised by the small capacity of the trunk (not affected by the hood) and of the passenger compartment: spaces are limited, there is no compartment between the seats and the only “closed” space is the small drawer. Even the door pockets are not very large, forcing the passenger to keep everything between the seats or directly between the legs. While we appreciated the adjustable sports seats, on the other we were amazed by the absence of the cooling function; the seats are only heated as standard, an option that could make you turn up your nose.
Ultimately, we were pleasantly surprised by the qualities of the Jaguar F-Type P450 and its extremely multifaceted character. The engine ensures constant thrust in almost all revs, while driving comfort is high in any context; while in classic mode the suspension absorbs all the roughness of the asphalt well, in the sports configuration the car is transformed into a more fast-driving solution. In short, if you have a good budget and the super stamp does not scare you, the F-Type Convertible can be a valid solution for those looking for high driving comfort without sacrificing sportiness.
