2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Episode 3407 , Episode 3419
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Just when we thought Jaguar had knocked it out of the park with the F-Type Roadster, comes this F-Type Coupe. Swinging deeper into the baseball analogies, Jaguar is driving this 2-seat fastback deep into the gap of their lineup making it a perfect 2-for-2, and upping their batting average with another high performance hit. In the process, going from wild card hopeful to a division leader. So let’s look at the highlights.  

You might think the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is the more practical version of the wonderful F-type V8 S Roadster. Wrong! We think it’s really more like its evil twin.

If there’s such a thing as a go-against-the-grain British muscle car, this is it.

Now, engine choices are the same as the Roadster, with one slight difference. The supercharged V6 offerings carry over at 340 and 380-horsepower. 

As for the V8, the supercharged 5.0-liter in the F-type V8 S was by no means underpowered, but Jag felt the Coupe could use more ponies, so it now rates 550-horsepower and 502 lb-ft. of torque. That’s a very healthy increase of 55-horsepower and 42 lb-ft.

Jag claims that’s enough to be the fastest Jaguar ever. And, with its all-aluminum structure, it is also the stiffest “cat” yet.

As for that practicality we mentioned, the cargo area is good for 11 cubic-ft., almost half again the roadster’s.  

The aluminum body that hides the cargo space is beautifully executed. The front end is virtually the same as the Roadster, but the sweeping lines at the rear are as dynamic as anything on the road. A fixed-panel glass roof is an option. 

That stiffer structure called for a stiffer suspension to be bolted to it. Add in Adaptive Dynamics, an active rear differential, and brake Torque Vectoring, and you’ve got a sweet handling 2-seater that’s a joy to behold and drive.

Even in relaxed cruising the Coupe feels tossable; ready to be a willing companion for any length adventure. All of our crew had high praise for its effortless performance, sharp handling, and the wonderful sounds that it makes; though some found the loud and aggressive exhaust note to have a fake aura to it, like it was trying a bit too hard. 

The 8-speed Quickshift automatic transmission is the same as in the Roadster, but has updated software, helping it feel a whole lot more direct. 

At our test track, it’s hard to say which experience we enjoyed more, listening to this cat growl at the line, or feeling it pounce off of it. 

If all of the stars align just right and you find decent traction, you can hit 60 in 4.0-seconds, or perhaps less. And you can clear the quarter mile in 12.0 at 122 miles-per-hour. 

Steering is very quick and the chassis super nimble, but with this many ponies punching the rears into action, oversteer is always in the wings; though the electronic differential tries its best to keep it hidden. 

Push harder and it begs for more. You needle together corners like a bead stringer hopped up on Red Bull. Like any true performance car, higher speeds is where this F-Type Coupe feels most at home. Electronic intervention seeps in fairly quickly, but it does so almost seamlessly, helping more than holding you back. 

The Coupe R’s standard Super Performance Braking System brought our car to a halt in just 110-feet from 60. You can upgrade to carbon ceramics, but we doubt they’ll provide the extra 12-grand’s worth of results.  

Whether on track or road, the Coupe just feels better than the Roadster, but not so much so that it feels like an entirely different car; just a better version, even if it’s not the quietest car on the street. We knew the coupe was coming from the F-type’s beginnings, but it was hard for us to imagine that it would turn out this great. 

Praises were not quite as high for the interior; beautiful to look at, but not the most intuitive to use, and things get cramped if you’re gifted with much height over 6-feet. Oh, well, nothing is perfect.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 16-City, 23-Highway, and 18-Combined. Our average of 22.8 miles-per-gallon of Premium exceeded expectations. 

The base Coupe is actually $4,000 less than the Convertible at $65,925. However our R Coupe is at the top of the heap starting at $99,925.

So, if the F-type Roadster was a home run, than the 2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe is truly a grand slam! We can easily see the Coupe quickly outselling the Roadster. It’s amazing what a small company can do with a bunch of cash for development, designers with a true sense of history, and engineers with an open mind. Jaguar is certainly aiming to please, and this one is way outta the park!

Specifications

  • Engine: 5.0 liter
  • Horsepower: 550
  • Torque: 502 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 4.0 seconds
  • 1/4 mile: 12.0 seconds @ 122 mph
  • EPA: 16 mpg city/ 23 mpg highway
2023 BMW X7 Driving

2023 BMW X7

Should Keep The BMW Faithful Coming Back For More

Episode 4238
Lucas Oil "Keep That Engine Alive"Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

While BMW got serious about their SUV game around the same time as most other luxury brands, it took them until just a few years ago to deliver a 3-row example. This year, that X7 is updated with new style and new tech. So, let’s see if that makes it the ultimate premium 3-row family machine.

When it comes to utility vehicles, bigger seems to be better for a lot of people. So, for BMW, there’s none bigger or better than the X7 3-row utility, which for 2023 gets a comprehensive update after just 4-years on the market. That includes a facelift to bring it more in line with the new 7-series carline, which is to say joins the more vertical, aggressive grille party. Also, the actual headlights have been moved lower in the front fascia, with squinty DRLs above for the first time on a BMW. In back, taillights take on a 3D posture, with a new chrome bar connecting them.

There are also multiple new M Sport packages to choose from to spice up the exterior, with larger air intakes up front, high-gloss black trim, upgraded exhaust, cascade grille lighting, and 22-inch wheels, as well as M Sport brakes…

…and the interior too, with aluminum trim and exclusive steering wheel. But, by far the biggest change inside for ‘23 is a new dashtop curved display that eliminates the typical BMW well-hooded gauge pod and blends 12-inch Live Cockpit Pro into the 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, which now features iDrive8. Both a Head-Up Display and a large panoramic sunroof are standard.

2023 BMW X7 Interior Dashboard

Whether set up for 2 or 3 passengers, 2nd row seat room remains plentiful, and though the X7 doesn’t look ungainly large like many of its competitors, access to the 3rd row is quite good. Cargo space is reached through a fairly unique, Range Rover-style, split tailgate, which is quite oddly satisfying to watch unfold. There’s room for 48.6 cubic-ft. of goods behind the 2nd row, with a max of 90.4 cu.-ft.

The base xDrive40i has always been the sensible choice, even more so now with a new inline-6 turbo getting a significant bump in horsepower from 335 to 375, and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that results in a total of 398 lb-ft. of torque.

At our Mason Dixon test track, there was enough to blast this big beast to 60 in just 5.4-seconds. That’s only about half a second slower than the V8 did the deed back in 2019. Making that optional 523-horsepower V8 simply overkill at this point. Our best ¼-mile pass was 13.9-seconds at 100 miles-per-hour. All X7s get a quick shifting sport-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission, which adds a new Sprint Function that finds the lowest usable gear instantly and maxes electric boost with a hold of the left shift paddle. What fun!

New looks and updated tech are cool, but BMW has also addressed dynamics as well, with a retuning of all chassis systems, including the optional Dynamic Handling Package which adds adaptive suspension with roll stabilization and uses GPS and camera data to prepare for what’s coming. We’re not sure if our slalom course was anticipated, but the X7 sure felt well-equipped to handle it. All-wheel drive is standard on all X7s, along with comprehensive drive modes.

In our braking runs, the pads bit down hard quickly, stopping us from 60 in just 115-feet with very little nosedive.

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Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the 6-cylinder are 21-City, 25-Highway, and 22-Combined. We averaged just 21.0 miles-per-gallon on Premium.

There’s an average Energy Impact Score; 13.5-barrels of oil yearly, with CO2 emissions of 6.5-tons.

Pricing starts at $78,845, and it’s a significant step up from there to $104,095 if you want the V8. Even more reason to stick with the 6-cylinder as far as we’re concerned.

It took the ultimate driving machine folks quite a bit of time to enter the 3-row family crossover segment, but when they did, they were able to create their largest utility ever and keep it consistent with their values. For 2023, the BMW X7 gets even more dynamic, embraces new tech, and looks better too. All things that should keep the BMW faithful coming back for more.

Specifications

  • Engine: I-6
  • Horsepower: 375
  • 0-60 mph: 5.4 seconds
  • 60-0 Braking: 115 feet (avg)
  • MW Fuel Economy: 21.0 MPG
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • Torque: 398 lb-ft.
  • 1/4 Mile: 13.9-seconds at 100 mph
  • EPA: 21 City / 25 Highway / 22 Combined