The Jaguar F-Type is certainly the best sports car to come from Britain in decades, but that simply hasn’t prevented this prestigious marque from trying to make it even better.

The car has recently undergone some visual and mechanical tweaks, but most significantly, it is now available with a manual gearbox for the first time.

Elsewhere, all F-Type models now have an electro-hydraulic power steering system like that of the XE saloon, and four-wheel-drive is now available on S and R versions, although the six-speed manual is two-wheel-drive only.

Looks and image

The F-Type is a beautiful car to look at, and unusually more so in coupé than in roadster form. It practically needed no changes in order to make it look good.

So unless you choose the 4WD version which comes with a re-profiled bonnet, you’re getting the same svelte and modern shape.

It’s very colour sensitive, especially with the new options packs and several alloy wheel designs. Such looks are a big part of the F-Type’s racy image. Undoubtedly, you’d have to work hard to produce an unsightly F-Type.

The refreshing thing about the F-Type is that although it’s a sports car, it’s not an overtly masculine one

The F-Type remains a strict two-seater and much of the front-end is occupied by a selection of sizeable engines. Inside space is therefore relatively modest. The centre console has been re-jigged to give more room for your left arm to change gear on the manual model, and although it’s snug inside, even tall drivers can get comfortable. Better still, the coupé has a decent boot with 315 litres available.

Behind the wheel

Even the most sensitive of palms will struggle to feel the change to an electro-hydraulic power steering system; it’s still super-sharp and responsive and maintains the F-Type’s lively character. The manual gearbox is definitely the choice for the enthusiast, as it shifts quickly and with great ease, while the pedal positioning is good for those who like to heel-and-toe.

But it is the blend of these elements that makes the F-Type so much fun. Sure, the monstrously powerful R model is a complete hoot, but the S is pretty fast too; there’s 375bhp on offer, enough to blast to 62mph in 5.5 seconds and all accompanied by an outrageous rasp from the exhaust that hardly seems legal. It’s difficult to drive without a large grin appearing on your face.

The F-Type offers lots of kit for one’s money. Even the standard V6 model gets 18-inch alloy wheels and part leather cabin, while this S model adds important stuff like the adaptive suspension, limited slip differential and the all-important active sports exhaust. There’s plenty of scope for going crazy with the options list but the S version has a lot of the crucial kit for a reasonable premium over the standard car.

The refreshing thing about the F-Type is that although it’s a sports car, it’s not an overtly masculine one. Just like the E-Type that went before it, the F-Type has a visual appeal that will attract young, old, male and female alike. Of course, there’s a financial investment required, but barring that hurdle, it’s a sports car with a very broad appeal.

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