2019 Jaguar F-Type Coupe P380 R-Dynamic Drive Review
F-Type P380 is a true luxury cruiser, with just enough performance to back up its stunning looks.
The 2019 Jaguar F-Type Coupe R-Dynamic P380 AWD. Try saying that three times fast. Actually, don’t do that. Instead, let’s unpack that word jumble, because beneath the copious badges adorned to the exterior of this Jaguar is an excellent luxury sports coupe.
F-Type coupe is rather self-explanatory, with this model being Jaguar’s sole sports car in the lineup. A convertible F-Type is also available, if you wish to feel the wind in your hair–in a very high speed manner. P380 is the engine designation and one of five available engine options for the F-Type. That engine is a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that produces, unsurprisingly, 380 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard. Though, as the AWD badges on the car imply, this particular F-Type has the optional all-wheel drive. All of this is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
In North America, that P380 engine package is bundled into what Jaguar calls the R-Dynamic model. That bundle also includes slick-looking 20-inch wheels, an adjustable exhaust system, gloss black exterior trim, and Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system, which, crucially, features an adjustable suspension system. All of this will set you back $87,300 before any standalone options are added on,–and there are many. Though, if you do enjoy spending lavishly for the ultimate in exclusivity, you can also spec-up your ride to the Checkered Flag Limited Edition, which adds even more visual flair.
This particular F-Type rings in at a cool $96,000, thanks to some add-ons. The key things of note are the optional sport bucket seats, which, when equipped with heating and cooling features, cost over $6,000. It’s a big, big ask for two, admittedly fancy, seats. Then there is the upgraded climate control package that adds dual zone climate control, a heated steering wheel and an automatically heated windshield. This costs a much more modest $1,125. There is also the fixed panoramic roof, for $1,175, that is an option easily worth skipping over. Several small-dollar options finish off the tally here, including keyless entry and blind spot and parking assist. To learn that these items aren’t standard on a new, high-end luxury car certainly should raise some eyebrows.
On the Road with the F-Type
Jaguar claims that the F-Type P380 does the 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 171. These figures are more than sufficient for the daily commute where top speed tends to hover around a lofty 75 mph, or 80, if lucky, and 0-60 numbers give way to 0-to-I-need-to-merge. Speaking of the daily commute, the P380 package is relatively frugal, as well, offering 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with this AWD model. Rear-drive F-Types get a one MPG bump over their heavier, more complex AWD counterparts.
However, unlike the more insane V8-powered F-Types, this P380 model encourages a more relaxed, and luxurious type of motoring. Indeed, I rarely found myself hammering down on the accelerator, instead choosing to take advantage of the sports exhaust button and just revel in the sweet tones doled out by that V6 engine at part throttle.
I sense that even Jaguar had this luxury cruiser mentality in mind when calibrating the P380 model. Even in the most aggressive drive mode, the ride and handling was firm but, ultimately, sedate, rather than harsh or stiff-riding.
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