Why is the Jaguar F-Type So Alluring?
Jaguar Forums members discussed the strong Jaguar curb appeal, and what models inspire love at first sight.
There are cars that just pull you in at first glance. There is just something special and unique about the power of curb appeal: a car that draws you in with an undeniable gravitational pull. For many of us, that car is a Jaguar F-Type. When the big cat first crosses our path, it is lucky indeed.
But what makes Jaguar F-Type so damn seductive? It is the lines, the dynamism, the power, the iconic marque, the…everything. And it is different for everyone, some models spark brighter than others. Our community at Jaguar Forums recently kicked off an interesting conversation about just that.
User EasyEd posed the question.
I’m new to Jags, and I feel that almost all are very attractive vehicles. However, (I’m admittedly biased, but…) I feel the F-Type is the sexiest. Your thoughts? (Let’s play nice!)
No surprise based on his user name, OzXFR strongly agreed.
Of current model Jags, absolutely no argument (well at least from any rational person) but I think if you throw the field wide open you might get some argument from fans of older Jags such as the last two XKs, E-Type, Mark 2 and XK 120/140.
Yeah. It is hard to deny that. As it is hard to deny the reaction others have to a Jaguar. Josh Willis drew from his own experience, it turns heads.
I’ve only had my F-Type a couple of weeks now but I’m already surprised at how many random compliments I get on the thing. A lot of ‘I’m not normally a car person but your car is beautiful!’ type of comments.
What draws us into the F-Type? BrucetheQuail added some great points.
I think with the hips and curves it is right up there in the sexy stakes, but I like some of their more aggressive cars as well (especially the XFR-S and the Project 8) and my all time favorite is the XJ220. Even the iPace is very pretty from some angles, I tend to think that if the new XJ is a stretched and sexed up version of it, it will be an amazing looking car.
Taken collectively, there is no other single marque that has produced so many beautiful cars over its history. Here are some of mine that qualify as beautiful, and iconic, I think.
I don’t find any Lamborghini–since the Miura–very attractive because of all the plastic “gingerbread” they feel the need to adorn every one of their cars, especially the Aventador. I find their shapes chunky and clunky with little or no sensuality. Ferrari, for me, does a better job (in most cases) of making a sensuous automobile, and I think that Jaguar has always produced cars whose shapes ooze that description. One of my pet peeves in automotive design are exaggerated door stampings that put artificial creases and indentations in door and body panels that don’t have any styling logic or flow to them. (The Dodge Charger comes to mind as one of the worst examples). Jaguars have never stooped this low and have uninterrupted, flowing body panels that make them look feline and sexy. It’s certainly why I have always admired their styling.
Ferrari and Lamborghini make some spectacularly beautiful cars. But there is an unapproachable; in your face arrogance to them that I cannot describe. Some of it because…the styling elements are not functional and thus all hat, no cowboy. The best way that I can describe it is this: Can you imagine the advert below, for a design house, using something other than what they have- without competing with the subject at hand’s graceful design.
Jaguar’s F-Type has got the lines, the performance, the history. And Jaguar draws us in viscerally, not just for its looks–we’d like to think we’re not that shallow–it is because all the elements come together so perfectly. Yes, it catches our eye for its curb appeal, but when we experience the Jaguar on the road? That’s when the real love affair begins.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Jaguar’s curb appeal. Join in the chat in the forums.
Photos: Jaguar; Jaguar Forums; Roccobarocco