Jaguar F-type coupe review, test drive

We're in Spain on a rather rainy day to drive the new hard-top version of Jaguar's stunning looking F-type, and the excitement begins right at the airport. Straight off a charter flight and into a Coupé S – the mid-range model, powered by a 375bhp supercharged V6 – that's parked alongside the taxiway of this tiny airport, I am soon pointing the long nose down an empty motorway. It's easy to stretch the Jag's legs; it's a happy cruiser in the normal driving mode, with the gearbox set to auto, although the pin-sharp steering takes a little getting used to. There's no slack around the straight-ahead position, it feels alive in your hand as it transmits every contour of the road, and on long sweeping bends, you tend to overcorrect. You soon learn that it’s best to guide the F-type with fingertip control.

The 3.0-litre engine is quite a revelation, feeling so much quicker than Jaguar's claimed 4.9-second 0-100kph time would suggest. The sensation is heightened by its rev-happy nature and the delightful soundtrack from a painstakingly tuned exhaust. You also have to give credit to the now-ubiquitous eight-speed ZF automatic. In Sport mode, it feels more alert and makes sure you’re in the right gear at the right time. Use the paddles and it feels like a manual, allowing you to hammer against the rev limiter and downshift at high revs too.

We get off the expressway and onto a single-lane road that winds its way up through the hills, a route I think the event managers deliberately chose to highlight the ride comfort of the F-type coupé. Despite the low-profile tyres and 19-inch alloys, the ride is remarkably compliant for a full-blown sportscar. You can feel the firmness of the dampers, but there’s a nice supple edge which eliminates any harshness from the ride, although the story will likely be different on our abysmal roads.