Words by: Adam Allen
What do Elton John, Kiss and The Eagles all have in common? OK - besides being a trio of kick ass musical artists?
Years back, they all claimed that they would be embarking on their respective ‘farewell’ tours leaving fans with one last opportunity to see their favourite rock stars before they trade guitars for golf clubs. The response was rabid, each act easily selling out all the stops on their respective tours. Then, years later, they decided that retirement wasn’t for them, and subsequently announced another tour. The moral of the story is that when a world-famous band or artist claims that this is the end of the line to see them in person, take it with a grain of salt.
We are aware of a strong parallel with the above musicians and the good folks at Jaguar Land Rover. Two years ago, we tested an F-Pace SVR with its monster 5.0 supercharged V8 and said “the time is nigh to lock in your V8 fix before it’s too late. Jag’s 2030 deadline of replacing engine blocks with electric motors is fast approaching, and the F-Pace SVR is proof that Jaguar refuses to go quietly into the night rendered in metal, glass, and rubber.”
Then the phone rang several weeks ago, with Jaguar letting us know that once again, there would be a trio of AJ-V8 powered cars available for testing, and would we be interested? Just like the fans who ridiculously overpaid for lower bowl seats at the Elton John show, we shook with anticipation and asked, “how soon can we get the keys?”
Before the sun sets on this magnificent engine, a trip down memory lane is in order. The AJ-V8 made its debut in 1996 under the hood of the stately XJ8 flagship sedan. It was kind of a big deal since it was only the fourth new engine design in the company’s entire history. Creamy smooth and adroitly powerful, it was largely embraced by Jag fans; only some spotty reliability issues held it back from universal acclaim. Since then, it has found a home in everything from the F-Type sports car to the F-Pace SUV you see here and everything in between. In the year 2000 the company plopped a supercharger on top which pushed output to soaring heights, a setup that remains to this day and powers all three of the cars you see here. Indeed, great things do come in threes.
The SUV- 2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR
One could make the successful argument that of the three cars featured here, this one makes the most sense and is the most well rounded. It is a much more practical conveyance than the F-Type sports car and isn’t too beefed up for off road duty that will likely never happen such as you’ll find in the Defender, making this the goldilocks choice for the JLR loyalists who identify as speed junkies. Since our last go around, the F-Pace has a new digital dash that leaved the old, pixelated unit in the dust and we are not sure if it was just our imagination, but the Pivi Pro infotainment worked without any issue and seemed snappier when we executed a command- in short, the best we’ve sampled to date. Our tester was turned out in Eiger Grey, which isn’t as captivating as the Sorrento Yellow version we last piloted but is vastly more understated and even a little sinister looking.
The Highs
We don’t place as much emphasis on looks the way some folks do, but if we did, the F-Pace would be an slam dunk. It is handsome and well proportioned, and even though the F-Pace has been on sale for several years it doesn’t look dated whatsoever. We should also point out that it’s the same where the interior is concerned. It is, in a word, exquisite. The quality of assembly and attention to detail is beyond reproach, and we want to personally shake the hands of the ladies and gentlemen who designed it and resisted the urge to use smudge magnet piano black appliques or turn to cheap wood or aluminum trim bits instead of the good stuff. It is simple and not overdone in a way that many of its competitors are not. We admit to sizing up the very cool looking racing inspired bucket seats warily, wondering if we were in for a week of sore backs and numb keisters. While they may look hardcore and do an admirable job of keeping you in place when you sashay down a squiggly road, they are all-day comfortable and expertly tread the line between sport and comfort even after many hours in the saddle. We also muttered a heartfelt thank you to the existence of the conventional gear selector which is so much better what we are seeing across the industry these days. All three are powered by the same engine, but the F-Pace enjoys the highest output and yet its 550 horsepower are some of the most approachable you can find in the segment.
The Lows
Ever since Jag binned the abhorrent rotary style gear shifter and the last generation of dreadful infotainment system, our two biggest gripes had finally been addressed, so there’s not much to complain about interior wise. Even the Pivi Pro’s main screen brought its A-game, functioning and responding just as well as the industry’s best. Our next complaint will seem highly pedantic to most, and it concerns the volume from beautiful quad exhaust pipes. It isn’t that they are too loud, but not loud enough. Years ago, we experienced the supercharged 5.0 V8 in the engine bay of an F-Type SVR, and it packed a positively belligerent soundtrack. The F-Pace is still loud enough that your neighbours will hear you coming and going but tame enough that they won’t politely ask you to consider parking your F-Pace a few blocks away. We can appreciate Jaguar’s decision to tone things down somewhat but since we tend to act our shoe size and not our actual age, we missed the extra decibels. The last issue we noted was not isolated to the F-Pace SVR but concerns virtually every single performance SUV save for the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and that is that this frisky kitty is born in the flames of compromise. It’s never going to challenge a true sports car on a twisty road, nor is it going to mount any serious challenges to other SUVs off-road.
The Verdict
For those who do relish the symphony of intake and exhaust noise and the connection between driver and machine that you can only get with internal combustion, the time is nigh to lock in your fix. This situation has a similar feel to the early 1970’s as muscle cars loaded up on huge engines with towering outputs to match before they were feebly saddled with emissions controls that strangled their once lofty outputs, except now its battery packs we dread instead of good old malaise. And here’s a hot take- we think that steroidal SUVs like the F-Pace will garner a particular reverence several years down the road for the sole reason that they are so wildly imperfect.
2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Specifications
- Price as tested: $107,450
- Body Type: 4-door, 5 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Engine: 5.0 litre supercharged V8, DOHC, 32 valves
- Horsepower: 550 @ 6,250 rpm
- Torque (lbs-ft.): 516 @ 3,500 rpm
- Curb weight: 2,133 kg (4,702 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 14.2L/100km (17 mpg)
The Sports Car- 2024 Jaguar F-Type Coupe P450 R-Dynamic AWD
Whichever employee at JLR is tasked with spec’ing out their press units deserves a raise. We have driven many variations of the F-Type over the years, and we struggle to remember one that was so visually captivating. The exterior was a gorgeous shade of green Jaguar calls Giola- we call it awesome-over an interior that features an extender version of sumptuous Tan Windsor leather, a color combination that is as close to the platonic British sports car you can get. Shoehorning a huge supercharged V8 into a small car is more American than British ideal (think of a modern-day Shelby Cobra but with a ton more luxury and comfort) and it’s a recipe that guarantees huge smiles per mile.
The Highs
Performance is the F-Type’s raison d’etre and it shows up ready to boogie. Our tester wore the P450 designation which meant it wasn’t huffing as much boost through the supercharger as its sibling. Output was rated at ‘only’ 444 horsepower which makes this F-Type not as savagely quick as its higher output version, but no sane person is going to say that this car needs more power. It’s plenty fleet as it is, all-wheel drive allowing you to dispatch all that oomph to the tarmac drama free. We appreciated that surefootedness during a mild winter storm which did nothing to ruffle the Jag’s composure. The gearbox is quick witted and you will actually enjoy using the paddle shifters. We told you how epic the spec of our tester is, and it bears repeating- it also helps that it is worn by one of the prettiest shapes out there on the road, and it’s a design that still looks fresh even after its introduction a decade ago.
The Lows
Know what hasn’t aged as gracefully as the beguiling sheet metal? That would be the infotainment system. It serves as a comical reminder to how bad Jaguar used to be at executing this technology. You can’t see the screen in direct sunlight- probably not an issue with a convertible, right? - and even if you could, the layout is haphazard and non intuitive. Selecting a command will give you pause, and not because you’re wondering if you pressed the right spot on the touchscreen but because even the simplest commands take some time to happen. A Porsche 911 owner would not stand for such shenanigans, but said Porsche 911 would have a bank account many thousands lighter than that of an F-Type owner. Actually, we think this car is somewhat of a bargain and will likely become a darling of the collector market as the years go by. The only other demerit on the F-Type’s report is the almost laughable lack of storage and trunk capacity. Fancy a road trip now and then? Best to pack light, folks.
The Verdict
The F-Type’s flaws are ‘annoying’ now but will be described as ‘charming’ as time goes by and people realize the heady combination of big engine/small car with all the luxurious trappings befitting of a Jaguar. Of all the cars featured in this review, the F-Type is the one we’ll miss the most when the brand fully ceases building internal combustion engines.
2024 Jaguar F-Type Coupe P450 R-Dynamic AWD – Specifications
- Price as tested: $113,126
- Body Type: 4-door, 5 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Engine: 5.0 litre supercharged V8, DOHC, 32 valves
- Horsepower: 444 @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque (lbs-ft.): 428 @ 2,500 rpm
- Curb weight: 1,717 kg (3,785 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 14L/100km (17 mpg)
The Off Roader-2024 Land Rover Defender 110 P500 V8 SE
We fell pretty hard for the spec of the F-Type, and the very same occurred when we first clapped eyes on our Defender 110 tester. Holy Storm Troopers, Batman! The exterior color scheme manages to exude slick luxury with a trace of menace simultaneously. In summing up, it looks fantastic, and it never failed to turn heads wherever it went. That it happens to be powered by a supercharged V8 that barks to like with enthusiasm out of its quad tailpipes amounts to icing on a very compelling cake.
The Highs
The Defender has bees selling like hotcakes ever since it reemerged on the scene and offers no fewer than three different configurations (we say skip the 130 model; unless space for the kiddies and their gear is of paramount importance its styling is kinda awkward) ensuring that there’s a Defender for everyone. That’s all well and great, but since we are shameless horsepower junkies our attention drifts to what’s under the hood. The AJ V8 in this application sounds just as good as it does in the other two if more muted. It will allow those with a penchant for straight line thrust to win most stoplight grand prix with the immense low down torque- the very same stump pulling twist that is so favoured by off-roaders.
The Lows
But let’s face it- is anyone taking this thing off-road? We won’t complain that Land Rover put forth huge efforts to make the Defender live up to its legendary status off the beaten path, but who will actually tap into this deep well of capability? Even if you never set foot off tarmac, this SUV always channels a feeling of robustness which in turn inspires the confidence to take it anywhere you may wish to go- those with developing skill sets in an off-road context will want to be very cautious- the truck has more ability than you do. No matter your comfort level in the bush, those 22” wheels and spectacular white paint will be put directly in harms way, and you may be fraught with jarring flashbacks of writing a hefty cheque for your own Defender just as a tree limb takes a gouge out of a fender. Just because you can does not mean you should- but at least you know you could. We do wish that the V8 were allowed to sing unfettered like it does in the Jags. Our Defender made all the right noises, it just seemed a little too demure for our tastes. If you gravitate towards the V8 powered models and pay the premium to do so, chances are you’ll agree. The throttle pedal calibration can use some work as well; sometimes you move off the line sluggishly, other times you jump ahead like a scalded cat. It takes some getting used to but finding some middle ground here would be appreciated. Also- this thing is one thirsty beast. Even employing every trick in the hypermiling playbook could not yield fuel economy results that we’d describe as dismal.
The Verdict
With the Defender, there are two other powertrains available- a four cylinder and an inline-six, both augmented by turbochargers. They both work fine, but if you’re like us, it’s the V8 you want. It gives the big SUV a breezy character, the immense power making short work of its prodigious weight and boxy aerodynamic profile. With battery packs and kilowatt hours ready to supplant gas tanks and pistons, now’s the time to head to your local Land Rover store to get your order in. With JLR announcing recently that the timeline to start phasing our interval combustion engines will begin in earnest next year, you had better act fast.
2024 Defender 110 P500 V8 SE – Specifications
- Price as tested: $116,050
- Body Type: 4-door, 5 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/four-wheel drive
- Engine: 5.0-litre Supercharged V8, DOHC, 32 valves
- Horsepower: 518 @ 6,500 rpm
- Torque (lb-ft.): 461 @ 2,500 rpm
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Curb weight: 2,565 kg (5,655 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Economy: 19.2L/100km (12 mpg)